As we motored up to examine this heavy load a little more closely, one of our (I kid you not) blonde women friends whipped out her camera. With a straight face she exclaimed in her charming, southern drawl, “Well, I’m sure this just can’t be a real potato, can it?”
We’ll let you make that call on your own if you happen to get a little north of Driggs, Idaho.
Photo: R&T DeMaris. PS to Shirley: We love you just the way you are.
If your RV travel plans include Florida, here’s another item for your “bucket list”: View each of Florida’s 30 historic lighthouses.
While the first navigational aid on the coast may have been the watchtower at St. Augustine back in 1586, the first real lighthouse didn’t light up the sea until 1824 when a 73 beacon was constructed at the same town. More lighthouses were built over the years, some standing to this day, while others succumbed to the forces of nature or economy.
Each one of Florida’s lighthouses has a distinctive daytime color and a unique nighttime light sequence to aid in navigating more than 1,100 miles of coastline. By the 1940s, the Coast Guard took over the assignment of keeping the lighthouses manned and operated. But that manning part shrank, as by the 1960s lighthouses became automated – taking away just one more romantic job.
But the romance of lighthouses is far from dead. Folks just seem to be fascinated by them, so many are now on the National Register of Historic Places. Some can be toured, others just appreciated from afar. Here’s a great trip-planning aid from the Florida Maritime Heritage Trail.
There are some long stretches of dry country in Nevada, nevertheless, Vegas is one of those spots that you always wind up passing through on the way. Red Canyon is a great RVing spot, but when summer rolls around the oppressive heat rules it out. Where you gonna overnight? Sam’s Town.
We’re not great fans of RV parks, but we’ll make an exception of Sam’s Town. It’s a clean park, and despite the fact that’s it’s smack on the edge of the busy Boulder Highway, it’s relatively quiet from an in-city RV park. Management keeps the grounds clean and trim, and there are a lot of choices in terms of spots, a variety of lengths in back-ins, and some h-u-g-e pull throughs for the motorcoach set.
Pool and sauna a
re strategically set in the middle of the park. On our most recent summer visit we found the pool guy could have paid a bit more attention to keeping the tree needles skimmed, but it was a refreshing to get a dip in the midst of the Vegas humidity. The shower rooms are clean, with private booths. Run your laundry for a buck and a quarter a top-load.
Rates? A great summer spot, we found overnights with fullhookups as low as $17 a night.
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| Pendleton Round-Up arena; Julianne G. Crane |
Changes are if you don’t have your tickets already for the endleton Round-Up, you are flat out of luck. Loyal fans grab up tickets months in advance.
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| Parking lot across from arena. Julianne G. Crane |
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| RVer Jimmy Smith, spreads out a picnic lunch Julianne G. Crane |
Roy Raley Park
1205 SW Court Ave.
Pendleton, OR
A great place for a snack or lunch, this park is also “called Round-Up by locals because of its proximity to the Round-Up grounds.” It is one of Pendleton’s oldest parks, with a grass amphitheater, stage, restrooms, basketball courts, picnic tables and drinking fountain.
After eating, mosey on over for a peek inside the fabled rodeo grounds and imagine the excitement of bucking broncos and roar of the crowd.
To read more about the RV Lifestyle click on RVWheelLife.com
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| Bridge Creek Cafe. (Julianne G. Crane ). |
A slow drive through Central Oregon, took us from Redmond along State Hwy 126 to Prineville. Once in Prineville, we followed US Hwy 26 northeast through the scenic ponderosa pine forests of the Ochocos Mountains.
We found exactly that at the Bridge Creek Cafe on US Hwy 26, just west of town. The cafe seems to be the favorite of motorcyclists who tour along many of the two-lane highways in the region.
Mitchell, population around 160, was established in the 1860’s as a stage stop along the Dalles Military Road. The town was named in 1873 for John H. Mitchell, a former Oregon Senator. 
The Painted Hills Unit contains 3,132 acres of scenic marvels unique even in the Pacific Northwest. To read more about the RV Lifestyle click on RVWheelLife.com
The Western Pacific Railroad Museum is located in a former Western Pacific Railroad locomotive servicing facility in Portola, California, in the Sierra mountains about 50 miles from Reno. The 37-acre site includes a 220-foot-long, 16,000-square-foot diesel shop used from 1954 until 1974 as well as two and a half miles of trackage primarily of a balloon track and various yard tracks.
The museum has more than 35 locomotives and 80 cars of various types. Unlike many other museums, visitors to the Western Pacific Railroad Museum soon discover that this is a hands-on facility where they are encouraged to climb up in the cabs of locomotives, sit in the engineer’s seats and browse through the many cabooses and passenger cars that are on display.
The museum is one of the few places in the world where you can operate a real diesel locomotive (reservations required). It’ll cost you $150 for an hour, but for anyone who’s dreamed of being a railroad engineer, it’s a mighty reasonable price.
The museum is open seven days a week, 10 a.m. – 5 p.m., the first Saturday in April through the first Sunday in November. Learn more at its website.
There isn’t a whole lot of civilization between Evanston and Green River, Wyoming, on Interstate 80. One notable exception is Little America, a giant truck stop and motel complete with its own post office — Little America, 82929.
Named for Admiral Richard Byrd’s 1929 base camp in Antarctica, Little America has provided a similar haven to motorists since 1934.
Little America is the only motel in America with its own Zip Code, making it a memorable stop for anyone interested in visiting superlatives by the road. The truck stop is well stocked with the regular trucker and road-tripper merchandise. If you’re hungry, grab a meal in the coffee shop or if you’re not THAT hungry, a 50 cent ice cream cone is the best deal for miles.
And, heaven forbid, if your tow vehicle or RV is acting up and needs a mechanic, there’s a repair shop that specializes in diesel engines.
We’re sad to report that Little America does not have an RV park, but there’s plenty of room to park for awhile to stretch your legs or take a snooze.
(Updated June 11, 2015) |
| One of many tunnels. Julianne G. Crane |
Although bicyclists can travel round trip, most choose the shorter (3-4 hour) downhill experience and park at the East Portal, located about 2 miles off I-90 at the Taft Exit in Montana (5 miles east of Lookout Pass on the Idaho border) and take a shuttle bus back.
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| Julianne and Jimmy on Hiawatha. |
The trail has a 2% grade and travels through nine tunnels and across seven high steel trestles before reaching the Pearson trailhead.
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| View from high steel trestle. Julianne G. Crane |
If you go
– You can buy passes online: http://www.ridethehiawatha.com
– Purchase passes at Lookout Pass Ski Area on I-90, Exit 0 at Idaho / Montana Border or from trail marshals.
– Helmets and lights are required.
– You can buy or rent equipment at Lookout Pass.
To read more about the RV Lifestyle click on RVWheelLife.com
The third weekend in June is always great fun in Kelowna, British Columbia.
The free outdoor car show features more than 300 hot rods, bikes and rumbling machines. Vintage and classic cars crowd the parks and surrounding downtown streets.
More than 20,000 spectators are expected to listen to live rock ‘n roll music and other performances.
To read more about the RV Lifestyle click on RVWheelLife.com
Elkhead Reservoir State Park is located in the Yampa Valley in northwestern Colorado. Home to a 900-acre reservoir, this state park provides endless recreational opportunities including boating, swimming, picnicking, wildlife watching, hiking, fishing, biking, camping and countless opportunities for photos.
The newly built Bear’s Ears campground at Elkhead Reservoir includes 16 campsites with fire pits, picnic tables and shade shelters.
Watchable wildlife is abundant at Elkhead Reservoir right now in June. There are lots of little critters running around. Depending on the season, large herds of elk, deer and pronghorn can be seen in and around the park. Hawks, eagles and owls are regularly seen throughout the year. Also found in the area are bears, coyotes, bobcats and mountain lions which are not seen daily, but pass through on a regular basis.
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| Julianne G. Crane at Shady Dell. (Jimmy W. Smith) |
The Shady Dell, in mile-high Bisbee, Ariz., is a place where “midcentury Modernism is alive and well.”
There are nine completely restored vintage aluminum travel trailers and you’re invited to stay in any one of them.
“Our sleek collection of vintage travel trailers are all perfectly restored to combine mid-century Americana kitsch with the comforts of home in a way that only the 1950s were capable of,” according to the Web site.
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| Vintage Airstream trailers. (Julianne G. Crane) |
The collection includes a 1949 Airstream, 1950 Spartanette, 1957 El Ray and 1951 Royal Mansion.
In addition to the period trailers, there is a classic 1947 Chris-Craft yacht permanently dry docked. The 38-foot pleasure boat sleeps two and is said to be popular with newlyweds.
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| Source: Dot’s Diner |
For eating in vintage style, there is Dot’s Diner, a 1957 Valentine model that has been restored in art deco style. Built in Wichita Kansas, the authentic diner was originally delivered to the corner of Ventura and Topanga Canyon Boulevard in Los Angeles. It was run by Dot Bozeman, chief cook and bottle washer until 1999.
Nowadays, the 10-stool diner serves breakfast and lunch. We had Dot’s Dog (comes with bag of chips) for under $5 and milk shake with real ice cream for $4.
Bisbee is captivating and full of historic buildings, museums, art galleries, antique shops, hidden walkways and plenty of ghosts. Its close proximity to the Chiricahua National Forest, Cochise Stronghold, and the Ramsey Canyon Nature Conservancy, provides many opportunities for bird watching, rock hunting, biking, hiking or just leisurely explorations of the wonders of southern Arizona’s high desert area.
For more information:
The Shady Dell RV Park
1 Douglas Road, Bisbee, AZ 85603
Phone: [520] 432-1112
Bisbee is southeast of Tucson on Hwy 80 near the Mexico border.
— Julianne G. Crane
To read more articles on the RV lifestyle go to www.RVWheelLife.com.
Photos: Top: Julianne G. Crane in front of Shady Dell sign. (Jimmy W. Smith). Bottom: Six of the vintage aluminum travel trailers. (Julianne G. Crane).
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| Camper outside Hog Island Country Store. (Julianne Crane). |
If you’re hungry for a traditional ‘pasty’ while touring through Michigan’s Upper Peninsula this camping season–and you get a kick out of funky little places–draft on into Hog Island Country Store.
Located just 35 miles west of the Mackinac Bridge on U.S. 2, this charming roadside store features unique regional products, such as homemade jams and jellies, smoked fish, and those delicious hot pasties. Then there is an amazing variety of retro items and pig objects of every description.
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| Hog Island Country Store owners Tom and Sandy Jacobs (Julianne Crane). |
However, by far the best reason for stopping at Hog Island are the shop owners Sandy and Tom Jacobs.
If you go:
To read more about the RV Lifestyle click on RVWheelLife.com
Photos: Top: Jimmy Smith and Julianne G. Crane’s Lance camper outside Hog Island Country Store and Cottages. Owners Tom and Sandy Jacobs (Julianne Crane). Map courtesy of Hog Island Country Store and Cottages.
