MONDAY, APRIL 16 IN CHARLOTTE, NC; OUR LAST STOP BEFORE HEADING NORTH

We pulled into the Tom Johnson RV Park, right next to Charlotte's "Lowe's Motor Speedway" and  the ZMAX Drag Strip around 11 am.  They were running "funny cars" and "top fuel dragsters" at the drag strip, some running speeds of nearly 300 mph, and the noise from the engines was unbelievably loud (or as Keith called it "music to my ears".  Within minutes the guys were ready to go on their Nascar adventure.  Their first stop was the Hendricks shop.  I was suffering from a head cold for a few days and decided to take a nap...didn't wake up till dinnertime (even with the noise). 

The next morning, the guys headed out again planning to visit the Nascar Hall of Fame.  They also checked out the shops for Roush, Gibbs, and Earnhardt.    The gals checked out the local mall....shopping!

We weren't surprised that the guys didn't get back till late afternoon; they really enjoyed their day.

After a stop-over in Madison VA, we should arrive home on Thursday, April 19.  We've had a wonderful time, met really nice people from different parts of the country, and seen so many awesome sights, but we're ready to see our family and friends back home.

Our travelling companions are going to stay overnight in Bowmansville so that they can go to the Green Dragon and Shady Maple on Friday and we'll probably try to find a good Pennsylvania Dutch restaurant.  And, there's no way they can go home without a few dozen Country Maid Donuts!

MORE PHOTOS OF NEW ORLEANS

I have to share some more of Joe's cool pictures. 

And the gang's eating again!

Thursday, we drove to the Jean Lafitte NHP and walked through the Barataria Preserve where we saw several alligators, snakes and turtles.  Yuck!

MONDAY, APRIL 9 -- WE'RE IN LOUISIANA

We were joined in Lafayette by Sue and Joe Rokowski, our friends from Maine who wintered in GA, who are going to spend a few days touring with us.

Rod &Ellen, Keith & Joan, Tony & Donna, Joe & Sue

And, we're ready for some good Cajun food.  We went to Paul's Pirogues restaurant, a local favorite, and started with crawfish or crawdads (they look like little....very little...lobsters.  The waitress showed us how to eat them; twist off the tail, take out the meat and toss the rest.  It's bite-size!  Kind of reminds me of eating crabs; a lot of work for a little bit of food.  But, the seafood was delicious - shrimp creole, seafood platters, crab etouffee.  Yummmm! 

We toured the McIlhenny Company's Tabasco plant on Avery Island.  The company was founded in 1868 and is still family-owned and operated on the same site.  While the peppers are grown mainly in South America, they are all shipped to the Louisiana plant to be made into the pepper sauce.

Tabasco Plant

We also toured the Conrad Rice Mill, America's oldest working rice mill and manufacturer of Konriko products.  It was a really old building covered with dust and cobwebs; hard to believe they still manufacture there.  And, they had a friendly resident cat to control the mice??

On Wednesday, we moved on to New Orleans and more amazing seafood; definately not low-cal.  The next morning, we started our tour of the French Quarter at the Cafe' Du Monde, a traditional coffee shop that was originally established in 1862 in the French Market.  Its menu consists of dark roasted Coffee and Chicory, Beignets, White and Chocolate Milk, and fresh squeezed Orange Juice. The coffee is served Black or Au Lait. Au Lait means that it is mixed half and half with hot milk. Beignets are square French -style doughnuts, lavishly covered with powdered sugar.  They are served in orders of three.

This little guy at the table beside us was covered with powdered sugar from head to toe.

We strolled Bourbon and Royal Sts, took the St. Charles streetcar through the Garden District, enjoyed a French Quarter Festival around Jackson Square, and ended at the French Market along the Mississippi River.  Here are some photos that Joe took; he's a really good photographer.

IF IT'S THURSDAY, THIS MUST BE FREDERICKSBURG

We spent two days in Fredericksburg TX, a historic German town.  There were some beautiful old stone buildings in the downtown area with lots of neat shops along the Main Street.  We toured the LBJ Ranch in nearby Johnson City.  The house is now open for tours and the decor is like stepping back into the 60's.

The girl at the visitors' center suggested that we take a drive on Willow Loop just outside of town because the wildflowers were in full bloom.  It was beautiful with many varrieties mixed in with famous Texas Blue Bonnets.

We also visited the Wildseed Farm.  I've never seen so many flowers.

Next stop....Tombstone!

Saturday, March 31st.  It's sunny again, in the mid-80's, a beautiful day for a short trip.  We stayed in Huachuca City just off Rt 10.  Sunday, we drove into Tombstone and took the trolley tour to learn about this historic town.  Wyatt Earp, gunfight at the O.K. Corral, Boot Hill.  Lunch was at Big Nose Kate's Saloon, once the Grand Hotel (when the town was a thriving silver-mining town).  Big Nose Kate was Doc Holliday's girlfriend.  The boom in Tombstone lasted less than ten years, but it's known as "the town that wouldn't die." 

Big Nose Kate's Saloon

We drove south to Douglas on the Mexican border.  It was interesting to see the wall that separates the two countries.  They're currently building a second wall about 12 ft from the first wall to better deter the Mexicans from climbing over.  
  

Border walls

The dark brown was the first wall (it's higher), then there's a cement culvert, and then the tan colored wall is the new one they're building.








We walked through the grand Gadsden Hotel which was built in 1907.  At that time, it was built with the best materials...reinforced steel, concrete, copper plumbing. 



An authentic Tiffany stained glass mural extends 42 ft. across one wall of the massive mezzanine.  Vaulted stained glass skylights run the full length of the lobby.  The staircase is set with solid white Italian marble and it has four huge marble columns; it's so beautiful.  

Copper Queen Hotel

In the afternoon, we toured Bisbee, home of one of the richest mineral mines in the world producing gold, copper and silver.  By the early 1900's, Bisbee was the largest city between St. Louis and San Francisco.  Many of the original buildings have been preserved or restored, including the grand Copper Queen Hotel.  The town thrived until the mid 1970's.  As the mining employees left, many artists and "free-spirits" found the town an attractive place to live.  Many of the buildings now house quaint shops and galleries.

We enjoyed lunch at the Bisbee Breakfast Club, a cute cafe' at the edge of town; great food and atmosphere.  Later, we stopped at the Copper Queen Mine (but didn't take the tour...90 ft down into the mine...no way!)    Keith and I both decided that we'd like to see more of this quaint town in the future.

Copper Queen Mine

  be one of the richest mineral sites in the world, producOnce known as “the Queen of the Copper Camps”, this Old

Bisbee Breakfast Club

Brewery Saloon

On the "Hippie" side of town

 West mining camp proved to bve one of the richest mineral sites in the world, producing nearly three million ounces of gold and more than eight billion pounds of copper, not to mention the silver, lead and zinc that came from these rich Mule Mountains. By the early 1900s, the Bisbee community was the largest city between St. Louis and San FranciscoOnce known as “the Queen of the Copper Camps”, this Old West mining camp proved to be one of the richest mineral sites in the world, producing nearly three million ounces of gold and more than eight billion pounds of copper, not to mention the silver, lead and zinc that came from these rich Mule Mountains. By the early 1900s, the Bisbee community was the largest city between St. Louis and San Franciscoing nearly three million ounces of gold and more than eight billion pounds of copper, not to mention the silver, lead and zinc that came from these rich Mule Mountains. By the early 1900s, the Bisbee community was the largest city between St. Louis and San Francisco
 

On the Road Again! 

We started our slow trek East meeting up with our traveling companions in Tucson on March 29.  Ellen is an excellent ‘tour guide.’  She has the entire trip home mapped out with interesting stops along the way.

Our first stop was Tucson where we toured the San Xavier Mission.  Construction of the current church was completed in 1797, however, notice that the right tower is not finished.  We were told that as long as the church was not completed, they didn't have to pay taxes on it.

We also went to Saguaro National Park.  The giant Saguaro is North America's largest Cacti, and is only found in a small portion of the country.  We were told that they don't get 'arms' until they're 75 yrs. old and can live up to 200 yrs. 

We saw more of them on our ride up Sabino Canyon.  The rock formations were amazing.  It's hard to describe how unique each of the areas are.

Sabino Canyon, Tucson

Another great experience is the FOOD.  We had dinner at Pinnacle Peak Steakhouse, known for their mesquite broiled steaks.   And, I had a 'prickly pear' Marguarita....yum!!!

Leaving Salome

We left Salome on Thursday, March 22 heading to Scottsdale for a week.  We stayed at the Roadrunner Lake RV Park where our friends, the Bennetch’s from PA, spend their winters.  It was great catching up with Carol and Dale who have been full-time RVing for several years.  They’ll  summer in Idaho again this year.  There’s a different atmosphere being in the suburbs of Phoenix; a jolt from being in the desert for 4 months.  We took advantage of their ‘light rail’ to go in to Phoenix to see the Native American displays at the Heard Museum.

On Saturday, we drove to the Superstition Mountains, a beautiful scenic ride, stopping at the Goldfield Ghost Town, Apache Junction and Tortilla Flat.

Goldfield Ghost Town

Superstition Mountains

Montezuma Castle

Before we left Scottsdale, we took an overnight trip to Sedona and the red rock area to the north.  On the way, we stopped at the 900 year old Sinagua Indian cliff dwellings at Montezuma Castle National Monument. 

In Sedona, we got a closer look at the rock formations on a jeep tour, a VERY bumpy ride.  

We had hoped to take a ride on the Verde Canyon Railroad but found out that you need to make reservations a week in advance.  They said the train is booked full every day that it runs.  (Maybe next year!!) 

Tuzigoot National Monument

Going west from Sedona, we stopped to see the Sinaguan pueblo ruins at Tuzigoot National Monument before heading to the historic copper mining town of Jerome located high on top of Cleopatra Hill (5,200 feet) between Prescott and Flagstaff.   Jerome is said to be America’s most vertical city. 

We found snow along the road before cresting the 7000 ft. Mingus Mountain.  I’m really not fond of the switchback roads over the mountains!