May 19 until May 28 -2017, Colorado, Wyoming, Nebraska and South Dakota

Unfortunately it make no sense to wash our RV on Friday May 19^th  because it’s  raining cats and dogs, so we limit ourselves to the dumping of grey water and then drive to the interstate, the only road nearby. Just after we passed the State border with Colorado we find a Welcome center that gives us welcome information about this new State. Unfortunately also bad news because in Estes park at Rocky Mountain NP is 2 feet of snow and the roads we wanted to drive to get there are both closed, the first because of the huge amounts of snow and the second because of a land slide, so access is not possible for some time.

Snow everywhere

It is also 34 degrees and around us we have snow-covered Highlands, so we are in doubt. Does it make sense to drive over the high mountains of Colorado at this time of year? “No” is the answer, so we decide to go further South to find some heat. And we are sure about our decision after crossing another plain covered with snow and when we fill up with diesel we are freezing. Even with a jacket it feels if you are naked. So we leave Colorado Springs. You cannot see a mountain because of the pouring rain, low clouds and icy winds. We drive to Pueblo, CO where it’s not allowed to stay overnight at Walmart so we proceed to a nearby State park. Despite the fact that it is Friday night, we find an empty spot with a beautiful view over the Lake and the mountains. The latter we see in the evening as the clouds dissolve and give way to a blue sky.

Pueblo State Park

Although it is still too cold to eat outside we can have breakfast on Saturday morning in the sunshine. The weather is great and we really enjoy this spot.  But we want to go further south, so after breakfast we drive to the Great Sand Dunes National park. As we arrive before noon in this National Park, we find on the “first come, first serve” places a very nice spot. Fortunately, our new RV, 25 feet long and shorter than the old one, fits in it. With a slightly longer RV we had never made it here. After paying for the place we take a cup of coffee and enjoy the view of the Great Sand Dunes, the tallest in the United States. Although I don’t like sand, this high slopes (the highest sand dune is 750 ft.) attracks me, so after enjoying our coffee we walk to the visitor center, look  at the movie and learn how these dunes were formed and what lives in it.

No other possibility than through the flow

Then we walk to the Creek that encloses these dunes, take our pants high up and walk through the water to the other side from where we can climb the dunes.  However it’s end of the afternoon, we don’t have much energy, we already walked 5 miles, so we climb to a top, but not the highest one and after running down the dunes, and we walk back to the campground where Dick prepares delicious pork on the grill. We don’t eat outside because the clouds came in and the wind increased. Outside it is no longer nice, too cold with 50 degrees.

During the night the temperature drops to 40 degrees but if we wake up around 6 am the sky is steel blue with sun. No more clouds. We decide to stay another day. Yesterday I told Dick again and again and again that I really should have climbed the highest sand dune. You understand that Dick did not like me anymore and he needs only time to say: “I take care of the payment of the campground, now it’s your chance to climb that dune”. So at eight a.m. I walk with short pants, hoodie (it’s still chilly) and backpack (with drinks and camera) to the creek. The water is freezing cold and it’s no fun to cross the many streams but at the other side, after walking through wet and cold sand waits the warmer sand, drying my feet, so after a while I can put on my shoes. After studying a beetle, which decides to attack me if I come too close, I ‘m falling down a sand hill.

On the top of the Sand Dunes

Then it’s going up, climbing and climbing and climbing. There is always a higher hill to climb. By the light of the early morning it’s hard to see which way up is the best so I conveniently choose for the shortest way up. Not always wise because some slopes are very steep. Eventually, after reaching yesterday’s top, I only need 30 minutes of continuous climbing to reach the top. It’s nice sitting here for a while then I climb the last part, over the rim and finally reach the highest Summit. It is cozy place. Together with a group of students from Southern Illinois and a father with three children from Denver we stay there nearly two hours, looking around and chatting. The people below, near the river, look like ants and the attempts that one undertakes to climb the dunes is fun to look at.

The track to the top

The sun burns already and it’s understandable that the temperature can rise here to 140 degrees in summer. When bigger groups reach the summit and it’s getting crowded up here, it’s time for us to leave.  Down at the creek I look for two geocaches and afterwards I walk back to our RV, mostly through the creek. From the high dunes I had a good view at our RV. Our high sand dune turned out to be 2, 5 miles away of our RV. In the meantime Dick made efforts to fit our insulation screen in such a way that, if it is necessary, we can put it on the front and side Windows within 10 minutes. And he met our new neighbors, Paul, Lucia and Jason from Denver. Late afternoon dark clouds take the place of the blue sky and my walk through the creek is less pleasant. Still I have to go that way because I need an answer for a geocache and want to have some more exercise to a total of 7, 5 miles.  Despite the cold winds and dark clouds we stay outdoors with Lucia, Paul and Jason. Lucia made a lot of food, too many for the three of them, so she invites us to have dinner together.  After having a delicious meal, Sophie and Theresa arrive, 2 cyclists from Germany and Austria.

Five countries together

They love to eat the leftovers and enjoy our Dutch cheese with toast. We chat with each other, have some drinks and enjoy the evening. At half past eight we are so cold that we go inside, the temperature dropped down to 40 degrees and we changed into ice cubes. After saying goodbye to our friendly neighbors we leave Monday morning May 22^nd. The weather is good but there are more clouds than yesterday. We drive through the San Luis Valley to the North. Around us are white, snow covered mountains. In Florissant, CO we stop to look at Fossil bed National Monument and walk around the petrified remains of Redwoods.

Once a huge Redwood tree

Nice to see but I think Petrified Forest in Arizona is nicer. However, the most impressive fossils ever, are found in this place. Through the hills we drive to Colorado Springs where we stop at “Garden of the Gods”. We first get some information at the visitor center and then drive in a traffic jam through the park. At the largest complex of rocks, impressive by their bright red color, we easily find a parking spot because almost all other visitors have a car and there are special lots for RV’s. We hike sometime between the towering rocks.I want to climb them, especially if people hanging in their ropes. Unfortunately Dick’s climbers heart is not pumping any longer so we walk just around instead of finding our way vertically.

Garden of the Gods

It’s very busy around so after we have seen all the rocks and took many pictures, we drive away. At Balanced Rock we even don’t stop. There are too many people here and it is late in the afternoon and it’s starting to rain a bit and we have to find a sleeping place. At the three Walmart’s we visit we find the sign “no overnight stay “so we decide to drive to the East and in the town of Calhan, CO we find a place to sleep at Cadillac Jack. By now it’s storming and the rain is pouring down. Unpleasant weather so we eat some leftovers in our RV and go to bed early. Fortunately, Tuesday May 23^rd  the weather is better although on the surrounding Plains the wind blows fierce. Across the campground is a coin laundry where we wash our clothes and bedding. Our laundry bag is filled up to much and doesn’t fit in the shower anymore. When everything is clean and dry we drive North West to Golden, a small town West of Denver. Unfortunately, there are no tours in the Coors brewery. It’s a pity because we would like to see how our favorite beer is brewed. So we continue towards Rocky Mountains National Park. Because I think that late afternoon, before Memorial Day weekend there will not be a place in the park we look for a place to sleep elsewhere. At Walmart it is not allowed, the State parks are full, on a public park was snow up to 2 ft. so the places are too soft and they do not accept guests and even with Good Sam discount another campground in Estes Park ask 68 dollars. (I don’t want to buy the whole campground).

Campfire in Estes Park Campground

So we drive to the National Park. It is now 4:30 pm and the entrance is abandoned.  Without a map we drive into the park, not really a good idea because we have no guess where we have to go.  4 of the 5 campgrounds are closed because of the amounts of fallen snow and of course there is no indication where to find the open campground. We drive along the park without any idea where we are and where we have to go. It’s not unpleasant, the sun is shining and the snow is great to look at but it makes no sense if you want to find a place to sleep. We end up in a Valley where we find, between the snow drifts, a map. At the same time Dick discovers that our Hakuna recognize the name of the campground so within 15 minutes, at half past five we arrive at Aspenglen campground. There are places available!

When paying for the campground I also take a bundle of firewood. There will be a celebration with a wood fire tonight. Not long after we have a crackling wood fire and a glass of wine. There is almost no wind so outside you can relax despite the temperature of only 55 degrees.  Wednesday May 24^th  we wake up and again the sky is clear blue. It is only 50 degrees but we are on higher grounds, at an altitude of 8400 ft.

Walking around Bear Lake

After breakfast we drive to the visitor center to watch the movie and then we leave with good maps to go around in the park, to Bear Lake. There we have a beautiful walk around the still frozen lake, ploughing through deep snow. We envy the American people with snow shoes, they look comfortable. The first outdoor shop we see will be visited to look at those shoes. But, the Sun is shining and burns and sinking into snow is quickly forgotten. After the nice hike and talking to different people who want to know everything about our different looking RV we drive on the Trail Ridge road to where the road is blocked at 10840 ft. This closed road made that we could not approach Rocky Mountain NP from the West.  It’s too bad that we cannot proceed but if we drive higher and higher the snow walls next to the road get higher and higher too. At the road closure we admire the view from above and then after many viewing stops we go back to the campground. Slowly people come in to occupy the places left and Dick publishes a new part for our website (thanks to the Mifi from Verizon). Thereafter we fire our wood again and with a glass of wine we enjoy this wonderful day in the mountains.

Elks on the Campground

Thursday May 25^th  we wake up early and enjoy a herd of Elks who stay in front of our RV. It is a beautiful sight and the antlers of the many males are already impressive. After an hour they climb up the mountain slopes and we leave this beautiful park, with a detour; the road (34) we supposed to take is not open because of a landslide. After half an hour dark clouds gathering over the Rockies and moments later we also have a part of the rain. If we pass a propane filling station we stop. Our European gas cylinder is extensively studied by at least 3 people. But we succeed and our aluminum propane cylinder is filled up.  After crossing the border with Wyoming the Welcome center provide us with sufficient map material for the next part of our trip. In Cheyenne we stop because our window was hit by a stone and cracked. Fortunately, Walmart sells repair kits for windscreens so,  while I do some shopping, Dick tries to fix the scratch. Then we drive a little further on over the hills and endless steppes of this part of Wyoming , seeing herds of cows grazing. Around three o’clock we stop in Wheatland where we have a beautiful camping spot on the edge of the town (free of charge) next to the rail line.

Wallpaintings in Wheatland

While Dick publishes the English part on our website, I do some geocaching in town. The two caches are not special but the town has a lot of nice wall-paintings on buildings.  2 ½ hours later and with 4, 5 miles in my legs I’m back and longing for a Coors light. As this park has electric power, we can work on our laptop listening to the always fantastic music from Dire Street and Marc Knopfler. When we wake up Friday morning, may 26^th , the sun shines. There are still some clouds but blue has the upper hand. After breakfast we drive to the dump station where we dump our grey water and have a chat with Rita and Jeff who live here. It’s nice to talk together and time flies. But we are in no hurry; we’ll see where we end up tonight. End of the morning we drive on small roads over the plains of Wyoming.

History written on Register Cliff

Of course we stop at Register Cliff. A place full of history, here along the Platte River, the settlers on their way to Oregon passed by. We walk along the Cliff to look for their names and we find them. It’s special to see names carved of people who wanted to let known that at least they managed to get here on their way to the West. Some miles further away is Fort Laramie. It also played a decisive role when the wagons went West. Not only the pioneers could do their repairs and purchases the necessary supplies here, the fort also made agreements with the Indians to let the Western settlers passing by safely. Unfortunately, these agreements were violated again and again and again with the result:  wars with the Indians who lived on the Plains.

Again a very long train

Before we arrive in Scotts Bluff, Nebraska, we must have patience because two long, long trains want to pass, this time there are 153 wagons. At Walmart, we may stay overnight and fortunately, before the rain starts pouring down we can walk around to find some geocaches. Nearby is a Chinese restaurant where we get some food after walking in the pouring rain. It’s very tasty and is more like that in China. After taken many, many pictures with my Sony camera, it’s showing some defaults. The huge sand mass and wind at the Great Sand Dunes has not improved my camera. At this moment I cannot make good pictures anymore.  So we go to Walmart and search for another camera. The choice is not as difficult as there are not many models and finally we buy a Nikon Coolpix 500. At least I can make pictures again.

The wagontrain at Scotts Bluff

Friday May 25^th  I have the opportunity to skype with auntie Ank and then we drive to Scotts Bluff National Monument. Along this high rock more than 250,000 pioneers travelled on their way West to a better future from 1841 to 1869. From the top is visible how decisive this rock formation was. Unfortunately we cannot go there, the trail is halfway closed, the RV is not allowed to drive up because of the narrow tunnels and the shuttle doesn’t run yet. So soon we continue along Chimney Rock that dominate the landscape and was visible to the pioneers from far away. Then we arrive at Carhenge, near the town of Alliance, Nebraska. Here, American cars from the 1950s and 1960s are put down in such a way that they form a replica of the stone circle at Stonehenge, England.

Carhenge 100% US-made

To get more uniformity in the cars they are now all Grey painted. It is awesome to walk between the cars and from a distance, with the threatening sky in the background; the cars seemed to be the stones in Stonehenge. We enjoy it very much and it is worth visiting here. Finally we drive on to look for a place to sleep in Chadron, in the north of Nebraska. The rest of the afternoon and night we enjoy the blue and black skies, sun and rain. Dick is in the Walmart, logging all our found caches in the computer and I walk around Walmart, it never bores. It’s a special Walmart as there are almost no cars parked and at night it is completely quiet.  Sunday, May 28^th , it is still quiet in the parking lot and we enjoy our breakfast in the sun. After buying some Greek yogurt and bread we continue our travels. Unfortunately, our delicious “Dave’s Killer Bread” with a lot of seeds and only 2% sugar, is not available here so we have to do it with “Orowheat with 38% seeds”. Via small roads we drive through Indian Territory (the Oglala, Lakota and Sioux) to the Badlands. The landscape is nice and green, there are many hills and behind every hill you expect to see a huge herd of Buffalo’s hunted by Indians.  But the only thing pops up when Dick stops in the middle of nowhere (cause I want to make a picture) are two Indians who wish us a good trip but also want money. We shake hands, wish them all the best and leave this place.  Then we arrive at Wounded Knee. In 1890 a massacre took place here among the Indians. There is a meeting on the hill and I want to go there. After walking around on the parking lot, Dick says that’s wiser to leave. There is one other car with whites (white man as one of the Indians calls it) who stay in their car, and otherwise there are many huge Indians loitering around. Dick thinks it is not wise to leave our RV behind and take a walk for at least half an hour. So we drive away from this abandoned and not inspiring place, we will never attend it again. Not much later we arrive in Badlands National Park.

Sunset above the Badlands

Unfortunately the campground is fully booked so we drive back to the town of Interior, SD where a Good Sam campground offers almost the same price as in the park.  The rest of the afternoon we chat with fellow residents, we do our laundry and make a walk to find some caches. We find out that we have to take care, walking on the dirt roads in the town.  In the opinion of a 15 year old boy we get too close to his farm. Aggressively he asks what we are doing here and at the same time he is clinging to the revolver at his waist. Fortunately, he takes his hand back as I tell him that we have taken the wrong road. We love to see the beautiful sunset, we read and do our administration in the RV. After a rain shower late afternoon the heat is gone and it’s too cold outside.

May 8th until May 18th 2017,  New York and the mid-West

Upon arrival at Liberty RV Park I booked for 3 nights so we still have one day to look around in New York. We’re lucky, on Monday all the rain disappeared and the sun shines in a steel blue sky. We are early and that’s good because this nice weather is an excellent opportunity to visit the “One World Tower”, the one that is risen on the ruins of the World Trade Center. We walk to the PATH station, board the train and 10 minutes later we walk under “the wings that fly to heaven” to the Tower. There are some people in line but that’s nothing compared to the rows that were there on Saturday and besides that, you always have to stand in line everywhere in the USA. So we have to be patient!

View from One World Tower

At 10 am we have our senior tickets (I got them when I told our year of birth) and we’re heading to the 102^nd floor, along the bedrocks on which the foundations of this huge building are anchored. From here we have a beautiful view over the city of New York. It is extremely clear and we can see a lot. It’s special that we can also spot our RV on the other side of the Hudson. For a picture, we have to use our zoom lens. Finally after many pictures we go down drink a coffee at Starbucks and talk about the fantastic views. After a delicious coffee we walk to Wall Street. We want to take a look at the Government Hall. Here George Washington was sworn in as the first president.

Geocaching in Central Park

As we will not walk again the long way uptown, we grab the metro and soon we are in Central Park where we find a few geocaches and enjoy the fantastic weather. The air continues to look like steel blue. Of course we also have to visit Abercrombie & Fitch. In contrast to previous years, the music is not so loud so Dick is also coming inside. There are not directly clothes that I urgent have to buy so we continue our walk on 5th avenue to the South until we are at Macy’s on 34^th Street where we can take the PATH to Jersey City and after a walk along the waterline with the beautiful view on Manhattan, we arrive at our RV. We still walked 9 miles. Good for our condition. Tuesday May 9^th, we say goodbye to New York. Dick had seen enough and don’t want to return. I, on the other hand, can easily go again and again; I love this city, so hopefully I have the possibility to come again with Auntie Ank. After we filled up with water and dumped our grey- and black water we leave Jersey City and after some time the hustle and bustle of a big city is behind us.

Hershey Chocolate Factory

In Hershey, Pennsylvania we stop because the chocolate factory must be worth visiting. Our Garmin cannot find the right place but after some driving around we find “Chocolate World”. We walk in and find a shop filled with chocolate products and a fair attraction with carts that brings you a virtually tour through a chocolate factory. Fun for little children but too much kitsch for adults. Within the hour, after tasting some Hershey Chocolate, we are back on the road, driving west. Walmart Chambersburg, Pennsylvania, allows us to stay overnight so between the throbbing trucks and tooting trains, very common near a Walmart, we sleep great! The following days we continue driving westward and soon we pass the Appalachian Mountains. The road takes us over steep roads up and down and the brakes of our RV our tested and succeed.

Wright Brothers first flight

The landscape is beautiful. In Dayton, Ohio, we stop to take a look at the Wright Brothers, who managed, after many failed attempts, to fly their airplane over 39 minutes. It is fascinating to see how this worked and after visiting  the field where they tried and tried again to fly, a grassland with hangar and catapult to give the planes a start speed, we move on. Again we sleep in the parking lot of a Walmart. It is never quiet and there is a lot of noise but the benefits are that you can shop in the evening, look around, and find nice clothes. There are also eateries nearby like Applebee in Dayton, OH where we had dinner instead of cooking our self. After 3 nights staying at Walmart, we look for a State Park in Indiana. Unfortunately the campground is full but luckily not so far is a nice public park in Westwood where we can stay overnight.

Westwood Campground

We go for a walk along the Lake and of course search for some geocaches. And the fillet steaks on the grill taste even more delicious than the Applebee steaks. The weather now has completely folded the temperature reach values of 80 degrees. The long trousers are stored in the closet and we only walk in shorts. In Indianapolis we have a glimpse of the circuit and the race cars, but no parking spot so we drive to Springfield, Illinois. Here President Lincoln spent much of his life.

At the Lincoln Tomb

The movie about his life as well as the House where he lived makes deep impressions. Now we got the information we missed when we visited the theater in Washington DC where Lincoln was assassinated. Because it is quiet on the road (Sunday may 14th) we decide, after this impressive visit to Springfield, to drive further West and visit the Arch in St Louis, Missouri. It is on the banks of the Mississippi, a crowded place but maybe on Sunday we will manage to find a place there. Unfortunately, despite the many rounds that Dick rides around the Arch, that towers high above us, we cannot find a parking spot for our RV. There are enough garages but insufficient high so finally we leave this place after one last look at the Arch. At Walmart St Louis, Missouri, we look for a sleeping place.

Arch in Saint Louis-Missouri

However, it is full of loitering man and security cars drive off and on, really unusual for a Walmart during the day. After two hours we decide to leave this Walmart and the city of St Louis and 60 mile further in Warrenton, Missouri, we find a quiet Walmart. Although quiet? If you mean the loitering, yes but not the traffic noise. The trucks hurtling on the nearby I-70 and of course there are many honking and tooting trains here. But with all our windows wide open, its 85 degrees, we sleep here as a block of concrete. Unfortunately on Monday May 15^th we cannot skype with auntie Ank, we announced it too late. So we are back on the road, further west, before nine am. Our goal today is Independence, Missouri, the frontier city where around 1835 the first wagon trains with covered wagons left for Oregon. Also Harry Truman, the 33rd president of the USA lived here. A good reason to fill up with history. As Lincoln’s life was so interesting, so boring is that of Truman and Independence looks like a modern American town. There is little to be seen of the old days. Fortunately the old train station of Independence is nice to see and the tour we are given is very interesting.

Church of Christ-Independence

There is also a strange looking Church, Church of Christ. The building looks like a soft ice or is it a seashell? We visit this church too and it is interesting. The Walmart in Independence is even noisier than those in Warrenton but maybe because of the heat, still 85 degrees, and despite the open windows we sleep like roses. Tuesday may 16^th, again we drive further westward. We already passed one time zone by passing the state border of Illinois, and the next time zone is near the Kansas – Colorado border. Our hakuna (Garmin) let us follow part of the original route of the wagon trails to the west but after some time we are led around Kansas City. Thanks to the hakuna who constantly says: “take either of the five left lanes” (can you imagine how wide the road is?) we finally reach quieter roads that take us through the undulating and grass-covered land of the state of Kansas. The storm is still going on and increased in strength so we need both hands to steer our RV and stay on the road. In Marion, KS we find a public park at a lake where we can stay overnight amidst mobile homes. We are the only guests. Tomorrow we can fill up with water and dump our grey- and black water. Unfortunately, there is only one cache so we have a short walk here, only 2 miles. The rest of the afternoon we sit outside, doing administration and I finally succeed in skyping auntie Ank. End of the afternoon it’s getting cold, the wind is very strong and the chill factor is big. So Dick is grilling the meat outside but we have our dinner inside the RV. The next morning there are strong winds but after dumping grey and black water and filling up clean water the clouds, are gone, the air is blue and the sun shines, only the temperature , 58 degrees, is a little bit low. We drive further west on the Great Plains covered with long grass, black cows and huge ranches. Next to us are the honking and tooting trains, 120 wagons long and with 4 locomotives. If you have the misfortune to cross their path, you better can make a coffee, because they are driving so slowly.

Salt Mine in Hutchinson – Kansas

At half past 9 a.m. we arrive in Hutchinson, KS where we soon find the salt mines. One of the 8 wonders of Kansas. Since two school buses with children arrived before us we have to wait for one hour but then we can take the elevator to the underground 650 ft. below. Advised by the ticket lady we also bought a ticket for a tour in the non-touristic part of the mine. Here with only flashlights you can admire the underground. The mining of salt stopped in this part of the mine in the 1950’s. This extra part of the tour proved to be a success. This hour ride brings you to the vast rooms left when the salt was removed. It’s special and it’s huge, we are driving and driving and driving underground. The other two train rides where lights shows you the salt formations, remaining ammunition boxes as well as vehicles left behind is less impressive.  After also looked at movies how the salt for the Icy roads is taken, we can take some salt souvenirs with us. Dick is against the taking of salt pieces and it turns out that he is right.

650′ Under the surface

The salt chunks I have taken, they are also pretty bulky, fall apart in small pieces when we are back in our RV and travelling around for a year with crumbling salt that eats and destroys everything (especially a car) is also not a good idea. As a result, I throw huge chunks of salt in the trashcan at Walmart. Leaving this on the land is not really a good idea because plants dies under this concentrated salt and also birds cannot stand it as we were warned in the mine. At 2 pm we leave this impressive salt mine.  The weather has improved considerably although the winds are still there. In Great Bend, KS we stay overnight at the Walmart parking lodge. In the nearby laundry we can wash our clothes and the neighboring Applebee provides us a great dinner. Fortunately, the tornado that passed here yesterday did not trouble us although there was a lot of damage as locals told us in Applebee. Because it is so warm we decide to take off our duvet. Not a good idea, because when we wake up Thursday morning we are icy, icy cold. The temperature dropped to 50 degrees and the wind-chill makes it even colder. With jeans and hoody we leave Great bend, KS. The Barb wired museum in LaCrosse is not open so we continue our way to Monument Rocks.

Monument Rocks

We could not find an address but fortunately our Hakuna (the name I gave to our navigation because with this navigation I never have to worry about getting lost) we find a gravel path, sideway from the 83 and partly sandy with quite steep slopes that leads us to the Monumental Rock formations in the middle of the prairies. Although the landscape is mostly flat we slowly climbed up to 2790 feet and still climbing up, we approach the Colorado Plateau. In spite of the chilling wind and 50 degrees it is awesome to walk between these high uprising rocks. The cows don’t agree our walk and with staring, lowing and bellowing they let us know that’s their territory. The cold does not allow a very long stay here so after a good look around and making a lot of pictures we drive further west. We pass through infinite plains with wheat and grass fields and cows. Mostly flat with some slopes and only grain silos and noddy donkeys appear.  The mini drizzle degenerates in an advanced drizzle and tries to develop into rain so we decide in stay overnight at Walmart in Goodland, KS just after passing the time zone. Now our time difference with the Netherlands is 8 hours. Fortunately, the rain stops end of the afternoon so we can search some caches nearby. We find them rather quickly thanks to an American couple from Wyoming, also Geo catchers. Just when we think that we could wash our RV on the other side of the road (it is really necessary) it starts to rain, so we take shelter and heat up in our RV and work at our laptop.

Baltimore, MD ,the surrounding area & New York

Friday April 28^th , 2017:

Although we are very tired, I, Tita, regularly wake up. It’s the Jet lag. At half past 6, I take a shower and go to the laundry. I won’t bother Dick.  He has no problem with the time difference.

Our room in Candlewood Suites

Around eight o’clock Dick is awake and after a breakfast, consisting of a muffin, juice, coffee and yoghurt we leave the hotel to arrange important things for our onward journey. The sky is blue, there are some clouds and the sun shines. Our jacks are in the trunk of the car. First of all we go to Walmart  to buy propane for cooking and fuel for our outdoor lamp and of course we take some food and drinks. Now we can prepare meals in our hotel and won’t have to eat muffins for breakfast. Because it’s hot outside, 78 degrees, we don’t want to keep the food and drinks in the trunk of the car, so we drive back to our hotel before visiting Verizon in Columbus, MD to activate our “mifi” (mobile internet). It’s not so easy. Our mifi number has expired after two years. Verizon gives us a new number and the ensurance that our “mifi” will work again. But it is necessary to purchase a $ 60,- refill card. The Verizon store no longer sells these cards so we have to find a Target or Walmart. A nearby Walmart don’t have it (but we find a roadmap with Walmart addresses) and in the Target we succeed. Time to have a delicious Burger on a terrace in the warm sunshine and then driving back to our temporary home in Linthicum. The day passed quickly. Dick has some trouble putting the money on our mifi (what was the password again?) but of course he succeeds and the mifi seems to be working. Soon as we are on our way, we will like this. After a glass of wine, we feel tired.

As we had a late lunch, dinner is not necessary so we go to bed early and sleep until 7 o ‘çlock in the morning of april 29^th . Despite the fact that we bought bread with lots of grains and low sugar we not get used to the sweet taste of the food here. But anyway, bread with ham and Dutch cheese taste much better than the Blueberry muffin. We drive to Hanover, PA.  At Camping World we will buy the Good Sam guide.  Unfortunately the weather is not so bright as yesterday and clouds cover the sky but it is sticky hot and the temperature is around 81 degrees. Time for our summer trousers. Of course, we don’t leave Camping World with only a camping guide, we also have other useful stuff in our shopping cart. As we are close to Gettysburg we decide to go there to get the National Park pass. Unfortunately it’s not for sale here so after a lunch outside on the terrace we walk around.

Monument National Cemetary Gettysburg

Last time we already saw the diorama, the movies (both well worth it) as well as the battle fields but we did not visit the National Cemetery.  Although walking around is not very pleasant (too sticky)  it’s good to visit this part of the civil war too. Unfortunately we cannot visit the farm of Eisenhower. The road is only accessible (and so visits)  through organized transportation from the visitor center. So we drive on small roads over the hills of Pennsylvania back to our hotel. Our summer trousers are contagious and after a long day they need a laundry. Fortunately, our room is next to the hotel laundry so, while we are working at the computer doing administration and writings for our website, our cloth are washed. And that for free. Now I remember why we choose this hotel. We have a small dinner while we had an abundant lunch. Along with a glass of wine we look back on a successful day.

Sunday April 30^th , 2017

Tita in the laundry at 6 AM

I still feel the Jet lag so after a few attempts to fall asleep I am in the laundry at 6 am. Next to the coffee machine, so it’s not a punishment to be here. We extended our stay in the hotel by two nights. We will not be able to pick up our RV before May 3^rd. Later we will drive to the rental company to see or we can extend our Rental too. At half past 7 Dick showered and we have breakfast. It is very pleasant that we have a kitchenette, eating utensils and a huge fridge. We take the nightly noise of this massive monster for granted. If it is not the refrigerator that make noise and buzzes many times a night, than the air-conditioners starting an even more terrible sound. With sensitive ears you should not stay here. After breakfast we drive to the airport. The boy who helped us after arriving in Baltimore says he only can extend our rental car at high costs. It’s cheaper to take a new contract. That’s why we drive back to our hotel. There we have wifi. We look for a new rental.  And indeed we find a cheap car. Tomorrow when we pick up our Swiss friends, Christian and Brigitte, from the airport we can change rentals.

Fort Mc Henry – Baltimore

Now we drive to Fort Mc Henry, where we manage to purchase the National Park Pas. Unfortunately not the one for seniors. That one is reserved only for American citizens.  Of course, we visit the fort, after, as always in a National Park, we viewed the movie. The fort played a decisive role in the battle with the English in 1814 and the text of the National Anthem. That was written by Francis Scott Key after the battle. Suddenly the words came to life. Of course, this can only be written at dawn when the clouds of smoke (caused by the battle) around the fort disappeared and the flag was hoisted. For those who don’t know, here are the words:

Oh, say can you see by the dawn’s early light,

What so proudly we hailed at the twilight’s last gleaming?

Whose broad stripes and bright stars thru the perilous fight,

O’er the ramparts we watched were so gallantly streaming?

 And the rockets red glare, the bombs bursting in air,

 Gave proof through the night that our flag was still there.

Oh say does that star spangled banner yet wave

O’er the land of the free

And the home of the brave?

As the film ends a Park Ranger stands in front of the movie screen and salutes as the National Anthem plays. Of course we all stand up and with our right hand at our hearts we see the movie screen disappear and through large windows the fort with waving Stars and Stripes appear. Awesome!

The Star Spangled Banner

Now, we all have to come outside where the Park Ranger let unfurl the flag by all of us. Then he recounts again of that Sea battle on September 14th, 1814 and the origin of the National Anthem. After that we may visit the beautiful restored fort. The Americans succeeding again and again, me, an “art barbarian”, to visit exhibitions, museums and other historical things, I previously would not have done. After also looking for a geocache we drive to downtown Baltimore. It is 82 degrees and the Sun is shining so what is more fun than strolling over the boulevard along the inner harbor, looking at people, sitting on a terrace, and eating delicious food. We hang out at the square where children play in the fountains.

Water, always fun !!

Late afternoon we leave the Inner harbor, a cosy place, after buying a calender at the largest book store of America, Barnes & Noble and drive to Candlewood Suites. My pants aren’t white anymore so the laundry has to work again. Why not? In the meantime Dick publishes the first writings about our trip and arrival in Baltimore so anyone knows. And our ship? It’s about to leave the port of New York.

Monday May  1^st 2017

I still did not lose my jet lag but now I wake up later, at half past 6 am. Time for a delicious cup of coffee in the laundry. After having breakfast, the roasted Turkey tastes delicious on bread, we find the address of REI and Best Buy because we need to purchase new Keens and a mouse. Near our Verizon store in Columbia, MD is a REI shop. I love that shop with outdoor gear. I would love to buy all. But I only look at the clearance. In the meantime Dick fits new Keens. The soles of his old shoes have holes so it’s not a luxury to buy other shoes. After walking around we both leave the shop. I managed to find lightweight shorts (in clearance). It’s an easy way to make a women happy and Dick has good fitting shoes. The mouse for my laptop (works much more pleasant) is also available so it is time to celebrate our purchases on the terrace of a bakery.

Relax in the sun at the Panera bakery

It is around 82 degrees, cloudy and this temperature feels sticky. But on the terrace it’s great. I don’t understand that most of the Americans sit down inside where it’s cold because of the air conditioning. In the afternoon we try to find a propane station where, if we picked up our RV we can fill up, but without an address we fail, so we drive to Greenbelt National Park to see what we’re missing. Normally we should arrived here without the delay of the ship. At 5 pm we drive to the airport to return our Toyota Corolla and moments later we are more than warmly greeted by the guy from Alamo. After the paper work we are handed over our new rental, a Dodge Grand Caravan. This one had the same price as a small compact car and because we hate to sit low we have chosen for this monster. We did well.

The Dodge Grand Caravan

Wooow, what a huge car, awesome to drive in. Only 500 mile on the counter, still smelling brand new.  Alamo, you did your best for us. We eat something and look on internet for our ship. It’s sailing under the bridge into the port of Baltimore. Then Dick drives me to the arrival hall of BWI. He is not allowed to wait outside so he drives to the rental pick up. I will follow with Christian and Brigitte. We take a ride up there with the shuttle bus. After meeting each other rain start falling. There is little to see of the environment. Too bad, because we drive straight through the center of Baltimore to their hotel, not far from the port where hopefully soon we may pick up our motorhomes. We say good night to each other and drive back. Our hotel has a better location, because we don’t have to drive through the town of Baltimore.

Tuesday, May  2^nd 2017

Again I wake up early, a good opportunity to write. The rain has disappeared the clouds and sun is shining. On Face time I speak with my sister Hannah. After her elbow operation she is doing well. Before leaving the parking lodge Dick gives me some driving lessons in our huge Dodge. I find out that it’s easier to drive than the other (low sitting) car so the lessons are limited to parking and turning around. We drive over the Francis Scott Key bridge. Thanks to Fort Mc Henry, we know that this is the author of the National Anthem.

The Atlantic Conveyor

On top of the high bridge we see our boat, the Atlantic Conveyor, in the port of Dundalk. Pride International give us good news. Tomorrow morning, we may pick up our RV. Great, no more extension of hotel or rental car. After a picture of our moored ship we drive through downtown Baltimore to the South. We really want to know where we will be able to fill up our propane tanks. What about adventurious? Near Millersville we find the propane gas filling station. After asking or they can fill up our European tanks, the owner says: “we will work it out”. It reassures me. We will be provided with propane. Time for a milkshake. No good choice because it’s too sweet. No wonder that the size of many people is a bit more than in Europe. We actually have no plan for the rest of the afternoon so we decide to take a look at the Chesapeake Bay. The town of Mayo sounds attractive. We have no luck, Mayo Beach is closed due to a private party so after a brief look at the Bay we drive back. But first to Walmart. We need a cooler bag to transport our food tomorrow. Half past 4 pm we are back in our hotel. I wash all our clothes, we answer mails and then have a delicious meal with meatloaf and potato salad. What a wonderful day, 78 degrees, sun and blue sky.

Wednesday May 3^rd

At six I’m awake. Cannot sleep any longer. We need to be in time to pick up the RV. Dick moans next to me but when I shower he climbs out of the bed so at half past seven we drive to the port where we arrive before 8am. Brigitte and Christian arrive early too. Although the Office of Pride does not open before 9 am we walk there anyway and we’re lucky. After 20 minutes we have our import papers so we can leave for the harbor. Our escort service is called (I repeatedly bothered him the last few days about the time of arrival and pick up) and around half past 8 Dick and another Swiss guy are leaving. I am not allowed to come to the harbor so I stay in the car and wait, enjoying the sunshine. There is a cold wind so I need a coat. After an hour the first camper arrives and directly after Dick appears. We unload our stuff in the RV then drive to Baltimore airport where we drop off our Dodge (with regrets).

Greenbelt National Park campground

Together we continue our trip to the propane fueling station and at 2 o’clock we arrive in Greenbelt National Park. We find a nice place and start reorganize our RV. This is necessary because I removed everything from the closets and now the content of the various boxes have to get a place again. It’s a big mess. I cannot find anything and go around as a headless chicken.  Fortunately, Dick also lost things. But, going on hour after hour helps and at 5 pm a lot of things found a new place in the RV . Together with Brigitte and Christian, who found a place next to us, we can raise our glass and have dinner together . The on the grill prepared fillet with potato salad tastes good.At 9 p.m. its getting cold outside so we go inside and sleep.

Thursday  May  4^th the air is covered with clouds but it’s not really cold.

We get up early because we found out that we left all our propane valves at the propane filling station. A disaster because such valves are not available in the US. After a quick breakfast we go to Millersville, an hour drive. Fortunately, the owner took our valves inside so I can hug our box together with the owner of the gas station.

The first campfire this journey

It’s getting warmer and we can walk around in our T-shirt. At 5 pm everything got a place, we can hit the road now. After a quick spaghetti meal I am going to build a wood fire. Dick set fire in the wood and all four of us enjoy the campfire. At 9 pm rain starts pouring down but then most of our wood already burnt out.

Friday May  5^th 2017 , the weather looks bad. It’s raining cats and dogs.

Under our umbrella we walk to the toilet building to get a shower. After breakfast we dump our black and grey water. The weather has totally changed. Brigitte and Christian have a bad faucet so we drive to Hanover, PA. The rain is pouring down. Fortunately the rain stops when we arrive in Hanover. Unfortunately, the broken part is not available in the USA but hopefully there will be a solution. We cannot do anymore so we leave our Swiss friends. As New York is too far to drive we only take a part of the route. The landscape is beautiful. The first Walmart in Phillipsburg, NJ does not want us to stay overnight but in Clinton , NJ it is allowed. In the distance we hear a train toot. It sounds familiar, we will sleep good. As we sleep at Walmart I am able to look around in the shop, Dick stays in the RV, reading. After about two hours I bought a nice bag, leggings, and two films. I like looking around shops.

Saturday May 6^th after some last shopping we drive to Jersey City.

The fuel in the State of New Jersey is significantly cheaper than in Pennsylvania so we fill up our tanks with diesel and moments later we see the contours of New York on the horizon. We have to pay attention with so many roads and crossings but soon we are facing the gate of Liberty RV Park in Jersey City. There is room enough and we have a place in the front with views of Ellis Island (the statue of Liberty is behind the trees).   Once we are settled, we walk to the Path station.

The PATH station in the WTC

Inside the WTC station

This train will take us to World Trade Center. The new station (looks like wings ) next to the pools of the 9/11 Memorial, is gorgeous and we make a lot of pictures. Then we visit the fire station nearby. We listen to the stories of 9/11 2001 and talk about it when drinking our coffee in a Deli. I suggest that we walk to Wall street and thereafter to Macy (the oldest, largest and most attractive department store in New York) located on the 34st street, before going to 23st street where we can eat at Outback steakhouse. It won’t be more than 7 miles.  With less enthousiasm Dick agrees so we walk and walk and walk along Broadway, looking at shops and enjoy the people around us. It is very crowded. When we arrive at Macy’s Dick stays outside on a terrace while I look around at Macy’s, searching for socks and a North Face sweater. The socks are located on the 6th floor and the sporting goods on the 8th so it is a huge climb up but after 40 minutes I return to Dick with socks and a Calvin Klein bra. Just in time because Dick changed into an Igloo. The temperature is only 58 degrees, too cold to sit on a terrace.

Manhattan and the 4 World Tower seen from Jersey City

We walk 11 blocks to the Outback and enjoy a delicious Bud Light and the really excellent steaks of this restaurant. Later that night we find access to the Path train to Jersey City. Back in Jersey City we enjoy the excellent views of the Freedom tower, in the evening light they have an enchanting look. We are stiff from the long 7 mile walk.

Sunday May 7^th we wake up late.

It is even colder, every now and then we see a ray of sunshine through the clouds . On our pushbike’s we drive to Jersey Liberty State park from where the Ferry to Ellis and Liberty Island departs. After buying a ticket I see that I have forgotten my camera. I grab my bike to cycle back to the campground but one after another bus approaches so I return and search for Dick. Today we only have Dick’s camera and my IPhone. Fortunately, the lines did not formed yet and quickly we are searched by the thorough baggage control. We take the 10 am ferry.  Ellis Island, is the first stop. From 1892 on the immigrants arrived here before there access to the USA was granted. It is possible to undergo an access procedure. It turns out that Dick would be denied access. No wonder if you laugh and sing in yourself. Also Auntie Ank tried last year to get access but was denied because she was an immoral woman (Single women received no access). While we walk around and see what happened with these 12 million immigrants, we’ll see a certain similarity with the current influx of refugees in Europe. After looking around everywhere and of course stamped our National Park passport, we take the ferry to Liberty Island. The temperature now dropped to 50 degrees and it starts to rain. A good time to have lunch in the restaurant. More people think the same so it is rush hour but the food is delicious. The cold makes us hungry.

The Liberty Statue on Liberty Island

After lunch, we walk around the Statue of Liberty and enjoy the view of Manhattan. We make countless pictures and are astonished about the size of the statue. Finally after looking at a movie about the gift of the Statue (donated to America by the French) we take the ferry to Jersey City and cycle back to the campground where we have a coffee to heat up. It is now three pm and raining. The rest of the afternoon we stay in our RV and do administration.