Operation Relocate the Snake

So, we spent the night in Illinois on our way to Wisconsin to spend the evening with my step-sister.

Upon walking back back to the RV from the shower house, Jake almost steps on this...

He was inching toward our car, so in order to avoid a hitch hiker to Oregon, we re located him to the wooded area of the park.

We made all through the southwest, Texas, the south and Florida and we encounter a snake in Illinois, of all places!

Random Thoughts.....

Just some random thoughts as we spend the night in Indiana.  We continue west tomorrow, stopping in WI on Tuesday to see my dear step-sister!  I'm so excited to see her and, hopefully, meet her family.  It's been way too long.


*We paid $32 for the privilege of driving through Ohio on some of the *worst* roads of the trip.

*Pennsylvania drivers do not know how to merge.

*The use of blinkers appears to be optional, nationwide.

*Doves are some of the most annoying birds--- ever.  They are everywhere, at every park location we've stayed at.

*Birds on the East Coast are much more colorful and noisy than those back in our section of Oregon.

*It is most excellent to drive with a potty on board (unless, of course, you are the one driving).

*The Pacific Northwest truly is one of the most beautiful places in the country to live. I am very fortunate to call it home.

*On a trip like this, alcohol is *not* optional.

*We have not had as much free time as I thought we would.

*A happy driver makes for an enjoyable trip.

*I could plan an entire trip just visiting National Parks.

Happy Mother's Day!

Silly Fun

We started our drive West this morning, stopping in Western PA.

The kids had fun on the drive with the sticky notepad pages that Gramma gave them.

And they biked around the park for a bit...

Where's Slippery Soap?

At the Statue of Liberty!

The Statue of Liberty and Grandma's House

We're winding up our week here at Keith's parents.  Keith grew up in a small, cute town with an awesome view out the back door.

The Moravian Church in Nazareth, PA

The view from the back porch

While here visiting the grandparents, they took us out to eat for lunch where I had the *small* cheesesteak sandwich.  Boy, was it good!

Nothing beats East Coast food.  

The family-the grandparents, the sister and her husband and us.

The only sightseeing we were able to fit in was visiting the Statue of Liberty.

If you plan a trip and you want to either visit the crown or the pedestal, you have to book the tickets in advance online.  The tickets will show a time for you to be at the ferry--ignore it.  We found out that it didn't matter what time your ticket said as long as you are there on the right day.   A big thanks to the very nice park ranger who informed us that yes, we would have time to visit Ellis Island AND the Statue.

We boarded the ferry on the NJ side--lots of parking and no where the lines and people that were coming and going from Battery Park in NY.  It was only about an hour and twenty minutes away and I was surprised at what an easy drive it was.

Our ferry

The New York ferry

Pulling out of Liberty State Park, NJ on our way to Ellis Island the Statue

The wind was hellacious, but the sky was beautiful.  I'm sooo glad we were able to go!

New York skyline

Ellis Island

More skyline

Being silly

The view from the pedestal

It was very, very windy

At the bottom of the pedestal

The chillin's

The statue and New York

This is what you see of the Statue when you are on the pedestal

Where's Slippery Soap?

The Library of Congress-- Washington, DC

Maryland and Washington DC

We spent a great 4 days in Maryland visiting my best friend, Jennifer.  Jen and I have known each other for almost 30 years (gulp). It had been a few years since our last visit, but as always happens, it was as if we had just seen each other yesterday.

The first day we spent visiting and fit in a quick trip to the B&O Railroad Museum and Fort McHenry.

Very interesting museum

The rotunda at the B&O Museum

Us at Fort McHenry--the birthplace of The Star Spangled Banner

Our next day we spent in Washington DC.  Keith stayed behind to do some work on the RV and car.  One day is nowhere near enough time, but we got to see the Capitol Building, visit the Library of Congress, view the National Archives and ogle the Hope Diamond--great day.

Thomas Jefferson's Library is on display at The Library of Congress, arranged, as close as possible, as he had.  That was awesome to see.

At the archives we were able to view the original Declaration of Independence, the Constitution and the Bill of Rights.  How neat to see George Washington's original signature on the Constitution!  The Declaration is very, very faded and I wouldn't be surprised if it is taken off display at some point in the not too distant future.  It was difficult to make out any words.  It was a bit sad, but I'm thankful that the kids and I were able to see it.

We just had time to visit the Gem section of the Museum of National History.  I think we need to plan one more visit to DC *just* to visit the Smithsonians.   We were able to see quite a bit, but we missed sooooo much.

Back of the Capitol Building

The Library of Congress

Beautiful building

The Library

The reading room--I'm usually a rule follower, but I broke the no picture rule to get this one.  

The Supreme Court

The National Archives

The Museum of Natural History

And back to Union Station for the ride back to Maryland

Us, Jen and her daughter Livy as captured by a very nice German couple.  :)

Our final day we just visited with Jen and her daughter, Livy.  It was a relaxing and much, much too short a visit.