La Casita Bella

New adventures, new blog

2009-09-09T00:00:00.001-04:00

Mar now has a new blog called Life at 55 MPH.

You will find it by clicking here: Life at 55 MPH

The new blog is more of a photo album than a travel blog so please take a look, bookmark it, become a follower, leave me a comment, and enjoy!

The end of the road

2009-08-31T00:00:00.001-04:00

Dear Readers,

We are sorry to say that Bella’s adventures have been disrupted.

Bernie had to return home suddenly to take care of some family responsibilities (no emergencies, everyone is ok). Mar hasn’t yet decided what she’ll do next.

We thank you for being our loyal readers and we hope you have enjoyed the adventures of Bella and the Road.

You may still leave us comments here on the blog, we will get them, and we love getting your comments. Or if you prefer, you can email Mar at HerTinkerbell@yahoo.com

Until we meet again,
Mar, Bernie and Bella

Time flies

2009-08-24T00:00:00.001-04:00

Today we were able to take some time for ourselves and rode our bikes into town just like we did last week. This made us realize that we haven’t posted to our blog in a while. We don’t really have anything new to report. The past week has been spent working. Lots and lots of work.

Bernie has been working on some big projects for the B&B, mostly outdoors, working long hours, and now has a suntan to show for it.

Mar has been busy with the new class she’s teaching online and spending a lot of time job hunting online, she would like to find more work she can do online.

Sometimes before the rooms at the B&B get cleaned Mar has been able to watch the Food Network, while working on her laptop. This makes her very happy and makes the work go quicker.

The weather has been quite unpredictable this past week. Most nights it has been nice so we don’t even need the fan. Other nights it has been down right chilly so we had to pull the space heater out of storage. The days have ranged from wet and cold to sunny and hot. It is most unusual weather.

Today we went to the post office to pick up our mail and ship some things. Then we went to a very cool store called Del Sol. Everything in the store changes color when exposed to the sun. We had a coupon so now we own a very cool, free Del Sol glow in the sun tote bag. www.delsol.com

We decided to treat ourselves to ice cream at an old fashioned ice cream fountain in town. It is all the way in the back of the Saugatuck Drug Store and has the traditional counter with red stools. We shared a chocolate shake and we almost couldn’t finish it. The ice cream was so good we took some home with us.

After that we headed back to the inn. This place is busy all the time. They are full or nearly full every night, both on the weekends and on weeknights. The B&B is very quaint, the rooms are beautiful, and the breakfast is delicious. A perfect place to spend some time off. www.twingablesinn.com

Good breakfast and great produce

2009-08-17T00:00:00.001-04:00

We started our day with a knock on the door. It was Danielle with carrot cake and milk for us. She brought us breakfast! It was so sweet and we appreciated it so much. The people here have been wonderful to us.

Bernie went back to work today washing more outside walls. This takes a lot of scrubbing with detergent and brushes on long poles.

In the late afternoon we rode our bikes to go to the post office and the weekly farmers market. It was warm and muggy today, but it sure is nice to be able to ride our bikes.

The farmers market was small but the produce was lovely. We bought some small golden yellow plums that we’d never seen before. They are very sweet and juicy and they are called Shiro Plums.

Our dinner tonight was quiche, which was left over from breakfast, and it was delicious. Later Danielle came to tell us that one of the cottages didn’t get cleaned today after the guests checked out, so we could use go in and watch tv.

The bad news is there was no Food Network. The good news is that we sat down in time to watch the Great American Road Trip. Next we watched My Name is Earl and then we called it a night.

Working in the rain

2009-08-16T00:00:00.000-04:00

It sure was warm today and being in the shade did not seem to help much. Bernie rode her bike to the small, local grocery store to pick up a couple things we needed.

When she got back she went back to work. Today she washed the outside of the cottages and a deck. She uses a hose and bucket and two types of brushes for scrubbing. The exteriors of the buildings at the B&B range from wood to siding.

It started raining in the late afternoon. Bernie stopped for a few minutes but when she saw there was no lightning she went back to work and she was able to finish all three cottages today.

Mar spent the day grading student papers for her new online class. She had a slight headache by the end of the day from too much reading!

After dinner we watched a movie that we borrowed from the B&B’s library. Today was a good, productive day.

The work begins

2009-08-15T00:00:00.001-04:00

It was another beautiful day today but quite warm. It looks like it will be quite hot for the next few days. Not exactly good timing for the warm weather, as Bernie will be working mostly outdoors this week.

Today Bernie started to work on the project list for the B&B. She swept cobwebs and started washing the outside of the buildings. There are three cottages, a garage with a loft, and one huge main house. Bernie made some headway today.

The B&B is very busy this time of year but Danielle was nice enough to figure out the housekeeping schedule to give us a chance to do our laundry. So today Mar got to do the laundry. It’s always nice to have clean laundry so we are very grateful to Danielle.

After a long, very hot day we were able to sit down to a nice dinner. Danielle said that we can have the leftovers from breakfast if there’s any. Since we don’t eat breakfast the leftovers can be our dinner, and this works out really well for us.

Today it was egg and sausage enchiladas and coffee cake. It was a great dinner, the enchiladas were delicious and the coffee cake was light and sweet. It had nuts but no cinnamon, which makes it even better because Mar loves nuts but doesn't like cinnamon. We are happy to say it is some of the best food we have tasted.

An excellent day

2009-08-14T00:00:00.001-04:00

We are in a perfect little corner of the parking lot at the inn. We are shaded at all times of the day. This means cool breezes with no direct sun to heat us up. There are birds singing, neighbors working in their gardens, and the sounds of people lounging around the inn. We sit here comfortably in Bella, listening to these little pieces of life as we sip our iced coffee, before we start our day.

When we were ready we rode our bikes into town. Today we had our very first job as a mystery shopper, where Bernie got to pretend to be a new customer at a local bank.

Then we got on our bikes again and rode up and down tree covered streets with tons of tourists everywhere. We went to the post office and then we stopped by the office of a local realtor, Laura Durham, to say hi and tell her thank you, because she had emailed us to offer us a place to park in Saugatuck MI.www.millpondrealty.com

As we were exploring around town we saw a sign for Sit!, an exhibition at the Saugatuck Center for the Arts about the history of chairs and the stories they tell. The opening reception was today and starting in less than half an hour, so we got on our bikes again and went to the Center. There we had a wonderful time chatting with the locals, enjoying the wine and cheese, and learning about chairs. Who knew chairs were so fascinating. www.sc4a.org

We heard that Wicks Park was a good place to get a bite to eat, so once again we got on our bikes and headed to Wicks. We split the turkey burger, because we are trying to eat healthy. The burger was ok but we think we’ll stick with regular burgers from now on. www.wickspark.com

After dinner as we rode our bikes down Water Street we happened upon Marianna's massage chair. We had met her online and wanted to meet her when we got here. She wasn’t there but her chair was just outside a cute fair trade store, called Monteverde.

We went inside and met the owner, Jennifer, who is a go-getter. She’s only 25 and already owns her own store. Jennifer called Marianna to tell her we were there. When she got there, we had a great conversation with both of them and it was really nice meeting them both.

Marianna told us about Uncommon Grounds, a pretty cool coffee bar, where the staff is very friendly. On their door we saw a poster for a free musical performance that was about to start. So we headed to the patio with our mocha latte and sat down to listen first to Zack, who accepted a request by Mar for a Beatles song, and then to Kathryn, who performed for us because by then we were the only people there. They were both awesome and gave us complimentary copies of their recent CDs.

By then it was getting dark and we were ready to head home. We rode our bikes and made it back to Bella a bit tired, but very pleased after such an excellent day. We are delighted to be in Saugatuck MI.

Back to the dentist

2009-08-13T00:00:00.003-04:00

We woke up to rustling leaves, birds chirping, and a soft breeze. When we looked outside we saw beautiful skies and the water, what a beautiful day in Saugatuck MI.

Bernie took her estimate in to the B&B owners and then we went back to the dentist today for Mar's cleaning. We love this place, everyone at the dentist office is so nice, warm, and friendly. We feel like we’ve been going there for years. www.douglasdental.com

Mar was seen by the female dentist today, Dr. DellaVecchia and she was great! Very professional and at the same time, very personable and fun to talk to. Mar needs a little more dental work done so we will be back next Friday for that.

Dr. DellaVecchia also talked to Bernie today and upped her meds. The swelling has not gone down yet and it still hurts.

Lucky for us there is a bus service here, the Inter-urban, that offers door to door transportation for $1 per person per ride. This is much better for us than having to unhook Bella, drive around town, and try to find parking.

So we called the Inter-urban to take us back to the B&B. Once there, Bernie went to discuss the project list with Margaret and Danielle and came away with another project to add to the list. Then Bernie cleaned up our bikes and replaced Mar's seat with a bigger one. Mar's toosh thanks Aram and Miriam, who gave us this seat when we visited them in Smith Island.

After dinner, we continued working into the night on our laptops. The weather is so nice, we don’t need the ac or even a fan. The people are so welcoming and friendly, we could be here a while.

Twin Gables Inn

2009-08-12T00:00:00.000-04:00

Douglas MI is such a quaint, lovely little town. Michigan is truly becoming one of our favorite states.

Mar walked to the post office where she got her mail and sent some. Then we both worked on our computers for some time. Mar is teaching a new online class that is very time consuming. Bernie is trying out a new job working with her sister and it is taking lots of time in front of the computer.

When we were done we drove less than five minutes to the Twin Gables Inn on Lake Street in Saugatuck MI. The owner’s daughter had emailed us about some work they might have for Bernie. www.twingablesinn.com

This B&B faces the water and is nicely tucked into a wooded lot, it has 15 rooms, three cottages, and a loft. We met Margaret, the owner, and then went to park Bella in an out of the way corner of the parking lot.

After getting set up, we met the daughter, Danielle, and her husband David. They both work full time at the B&B. Bernie talked to Margaret and Danielle about the projects they need done and came away with quite a list. Bernie went back to Bella to prepare the estimate and materials list for them.

The area is quiet and serene, it is a beautiful B&B. There is a spa and a pool, which they invited us to use. David and Danielle have a five-month-old baby girl named Anakin, who became attached to Bernie as soon as she saw her.

We look forward to spending some time in Saugatuck and getting to know the area. So far everything we’ve seen, tells us that we’ll really like this small, unique town.

Drum circle

2009-08-11T00:00:00.001-04:00

We were both feeling a little under the weather today so we decided to stay put. Since we had free wi-fi we sat down to watch the last few weeks of the Big American Road Trip that we missed.

Afterwards we knew we had to find a dentist because Bernie had a fever and her face and throat felt swollen. Lucky for us it only took a couple of phone calls to find a dentist in Douglas MI that could see Bernie today.

The staff at Dr. Raebel’s office was friendly and welcoming. Dr. Raebel said Bernie has an infection, prescribed her an antibiotic, and called a specialist for her. The problem seems to be with the root canal she had done a few months ago.

We went to the Saugatuck Drug Store to pick up the antibiotic and since we were both hungry, tired, and not feeling well, we asked where there was a good place to get a burger. They recommended Phil’s, right next door and that’s where we went. We split the ahi tuna appetizer and the gorgonzola burger. The appetizer was delicious and we both agreed this is one of the best burgers we’ve had.

Then we went to Shore Acres Park for the drum circle there tonight. This was our first drum circle. The drum instructor had brought extra instruments for those who didn’t have one. Bernie jumped in the circle and started playing, she even led one of the circle songs. It was a ton of fun and what a beautiful day for it.

Then we drove to the post office in Douglas MI but there wasn’t much parking so we went to the library, a couple doors down, to park for the night.

Wooden shoes

2009-08-10T00:00:00.001-04:00

After our cup of coffee we decided to driv e to Veldheers. We walked through the garden but there were no tulips at this time and we didn't get to see any bison either. But we did get to see the unique process of making Delftware, the famous Dutch pottery. You can watch as these masterpieces are fired, glazed, and painted.

You can also watch them making wooden shoes. We tried on several of the wooden shoes and it’s hard to understand how these would ever be comfortable enough to actually wear. www.veldheer.com

Then we drove about ten minutes to Tunnel Park. This park has a unique tunnel through a dune leading to the beach. The sand dunes
here are awesome. it was a lot of work to get up and down, we got a workout. Once we sat down, Mar read her book and Bernie tried the water, but it was too cold.

Then we just relaxed and people-watched, while enjoying this beautiful beach. As the sun went down, we left and went to Walmart to get a few groceries. Then we parked at the Staples next door for the night.

We're back!

2009-08-09T00:00:00.005-04:00

Last Wednesday we drove west for three hours to Hart MI. From there we went to the Michigan Women’s Music Festival where we’ve spent the last four days.

This is a huge festival with lots of concerts, workshops, and activities. It is a camping event, there were tent campers and RV campers. Every night there were campfires burning late into the night and the sound of the music coming from the stage was our background as we fell asleep. The weather was great until the last day when it rained all night.

Today we packed up and got ready to leave. We headed south about an hour to the beach in Muskegon MI. This is a nice beach and there were tons of people there today. Bernie worked on her crafts in front of the water. Mar had to work on her online classes, so she got on her laptop while watching the water.

Today was pretty hot and humid, when it threatened rain we took off and drove south another half hour to Grand Haven MI. After driving around downtown, we parked near the marina. A little while later, the sky suddenly got dark and the wind picked up. At one point the wind was so strong it felt like it could almost flip Bella over.

We checked the weather online and saw there was a thunderstorm warning for the area. We had checked the weather before coming here but it didn't say anything about a thunderstorm then. Luckily it didn’t last long and we were able to stop worrying.

As it got close to 10 pm we walked over to the marina and sat down to wait for the Musical Fountain Show. After a few minutes someone announced the show was canceled because of a power outage due to the earlier thunderstorm. We were so disappointed. Then we headed to Walmart to park for the night.

Tackling stuff

2009-08-04T00:00:00.003-04:00

Today was a crazy busy day. Because we are staying put for a couple of days and have shore power, we were able to tackle some stuff we’ve been meaning to do for a while. We worked all day long, and Mar did the rest of the laundry on top of that.

We pretty much turned Bella upside down, while cleaning and organizing shelves and cabinets, looking for things we have not used since we’ve been on the road so we can get rid of the clutter.

We ended up with two bags full of clothes that we can’t wear anymore and we gave them to our hosts to sell in their yard sale this coming weekend.

It is amazing that after a year on the road with very little storage, stuff still seems to accumulate. We don’t know how, but it must come from somewhere. We have made a commitment to eat healthier and lose weight and not to get any stuff we don’t absolutely need.

It has been so nice being here to park and socialize with our new friends. They are very welcoming and know just how to make us feel right at home. Christina made ribs for dinner tonight. They were yummy and we even went back for seconds. We can always start the diet tomorrow :-)

We’ve made all the preparations we can think of for our camping trip this week. We will be boondocking for several days and may not have internet access. If that is the case, please know that we will update our blog as soon as we can.

Some more errands

2009-08-03T00:00:00.003-04:00

Today we woke up at the post office in Williamston MI. We went inside to get our mail and shipped some things.

Then we started our journey to finish our list of things we need to get done before we go camping later this week. We went to get our tires checked and decided to get the tires rotated and balanced. It was time to get it done, we knew it was needed.

We found a tire place called Tire Factory and the guy who helped us was very nice. He got us right in and got the job done quickly. He even took the time to check out the breaks. He answered all of Bernie's questions and that's a lot.

After this we headed to Staples to print some flyers so Bernie can advertise her carpentry and handyperson business. Then we headed to meet our new friends.

Larry and Christina follow our blog and when they found out we’re in Michigan, they emailed us to invite us to park in their driveway. We pulled up to smiling faces and open arms. They offered us the use of their shower and washer and dryer. They treated us to dinner and cake!

While Mar did the laundry, our new friends helped Bernie try to set up the satellite dish, but we still can't get it to work. Mar is disappointed that she still can't watch the Food Network in Bella.

After a full day we finally retired to Bella, where Mar went to work on the new online class she’s teaching.

So many errands, so little time

2009-08-02T00:00:00.003-04:00

We got up early today, we had a long day ahead of us. The sun was shining but it was cool outside.

After we had our coffee, Mar read the Sunday paper while Bernie checked out some books on wood finishes and woodwork at Barnes and Noble in Lansing MI.

When we were finished we headed out to run several errands to get what we need for our upcoming camping trip.

First we went to Salvation Army but it was closed so then we went to Goodwill. We didn’t find the rug we want to put outside Bella when we camp, but we found some tshirts for half price.

Then we went to the grocery store, Aldi, because they had milk on sale for only $1 for a gallon of milk. We wish we had more room in our fridge, but we could only get two gallons.

After this we headed to Big Lots because we had a gift card. We got some paper plates and a plastic tarp to use instead of a rug.

Then we went to Radio Shack to ask some questions about how to set up the satellite dish that was given to us. Bernie thinks she now has the instructions she needs to set it up.

After that we went to Michaels so Bernie could look at materials and inspiration for the new jewelry she’s making. Mar found charms for her Crocs on sale really cheap, she couldn’t believe her luck.

Then we went to Walmart for our weekly grocery shopping. By the time we were done, we were exhausted. We drove half an hour east to Williamston MI, found the post office, and parked for the night.

Back to the states

2009-08-01T00:00:00.002-04:00

We were lucky to find such a great spot to park last night, but sleeping in a city is quite a challenge, it was really loud all night long. We did not get much sleep but that did not hamper our enthusiasm for today. We headed out to start our walking experience of Toronto.

Our first stop was the Shoe Museum (www.batashoemuseum.ca) where the exhibit covers the complete history of the shoe through many interesting and unusual shoes. Then we walked up the street to a very cool building that caught our eye last night while we were driving around, this was the Royal Ontario Museum (www.rom.on.ca) exhibiting the Dead Sea Scrolls.

We did not tour the museums. We didn’t really have the time or the funds, so we spent time in the
gift shops instead, which sometimes can be as entertaining and educational.

After this we went back to Bella and hit the road. We drove west for four hours to Windsor, Ontario. We paid the $3 toll and crossed the Detroit Windsor Tunnel, the underwater tunnel that runs the width of the Detroit River and is almost a mile long. It is the only underwater border crossing in the world.

At customs, we experienced a first. We were inspected. First, they took our keys. Then they came inside and opened cabinets, cupboards and drawers, while asking us questions. It was over in about a minute and we were on our way.

We got to Detroit and headed to Hunter House Hamburgers, the best burger in the state according to

the Food Network Magazine. We waited way too long for our sliders and chili cheese fries. The food was ok but nothing to write home about. www.hunterhousehamburgers.com

After dinner we drove west an hour and a half to Lansing MI. We were beat and wanted to park. On our way to Walmart we saw a Barnes and Noble and decided to park there instead, to use the free wi-fi.

Back to Canada

2009-07-31T00:00:00.001-04:00

We were excited when we got up today because we were going to see two Frank Lloyd Wright houses in Buffalo NY.

The Martin house is huge. There are actually six buildings on one acre. The main house is connected by a beautiful covered walk to the conservatory, where there is a replica of the Nike statue. You can see the statue all the way from the front door. It is a distance of 180 feet, very impressive. www.darwinmartinhouse.org

The Martin family asked FLW to also design them a summer home on L ake Erie. We headed to Graycliff for our second tour of the day. This second house is nothing like the first. The house sits on top of a 65 ft cliff. There are stairs leading down to the beach, but they are not in use at this time. The house is intimate, with views of the lake from almost every room in the house, and ideal for a summer cottage. www.graycliff.bfn.org

Then we went to see a b oathouse that FLW designed in 1905 and was finally built in 2007. Everywhere we looked, we could see his unique design touches. www.wrightsboathouse.org

After this we headed back to Canada, we paid the $3 toll, answered a few questions at customs, and drove north an hour and a half to Toronto, Ontario. We were too late to get a map from the visitor center, it had already closed. We got to downtown Toronto and stopped at Union Station. Bernie went inside and found a couple of maps.

As we got close to downtown we saw the CN Tower, the tallest building in the world at 1815 feet. Driving through downtown the first thing we noticed is that it looks just like Times Square in NYC. There are bright lights everywhere and huge advertisements and video screens. There was a concert downtown and tons of people everywhere.

We drove around searching for a place to park. After a while, we spotted a parking lot on a corner that looked empty. We went to check it out and it was perfect, surrounded by buildings and right next to a small park. The lot has free overnight parking and it’s only $8 during the day. It is located at the corner of Bloor and Bedford. The lot can be seen from Bloor but the entrance is on Bedford.

We decided to stay, we were exhausted. Without cell phones or internet access, we just read for a little while and then went to sleep.

Hit and run

2009-07-30T00:00:00.001-04:00

The good news is that we are happy to be in Canada. The bad news is that we hardly got any sleep last night. This is a small parking lot with a bar, stores open 24 hours, and even a small gas station. There were cars coming and going all night, people talking, and doors slamming.

And the worst thing is that in the middle of the night, someone hit our Bella and then sped off. We couldn’t believe it! Lucky for us, there is no real damage, just a smudge on the rubber part of the front bumper.

We got up tired and sleepy. We drove back to The Falls to take a look at them in the daytime. It was a beautiful day today. The Falls look so powerful that they give you a sense of pure energy. What a magnificent work of nature.

Next we headed to Buffalo NY. We didn’t plan to go back to the states this way, but we realized how close we are to two of the houses by Frank Lloyd Wright, so we just don't think we should miss them. We called and scheduled both tours for tomorrow, one at noon and the other at 2 pm.

We headed across Rainbow Bridge to NY and went directly to the first house to take a look at the area. We then searched online for a coffee shop and after a few phone calls, we found Sweetness Seven.

This is an adorable corner coffee shop that serves coffee and lunch items. This artsy place is whimsically decorated and every table is painted in different patterns. It is definitely a charming setting that mixes paint colors and real block walls with antique cabinets. We tried the American iced coffee and it was delicious. The size was generous for the price as well.

Then we went back to the FLW house and parked on the street, right in front of the house, so we can be here for our tour tomorrow.

Canada for the third time

2009-07-29T00:00:00.001-04:00

Some days no matter how much you plan, you just have to go with the flow. That’s what we did today.

We woke up in Mexicantown and drove across the Ambassador Bridge to Windsor, Ontario, Canada. It was only a ten minute drive and a $4 toll. We want to see as much of Canada as we can and this was so close, we just had to go, plus we haven't been to Ontario before.

We got gas on the US side and paid $2.30 per gallon. Going through customs was simple and quick. They asked a few questions about our visit, handed us back our passports, and off we went.

Our first stop was the visitor center where we picked up information about things to do in Windsor. On our way out of the visitor center, we realized that we probably won’t be this close ever again to the Canadian side of Niagara Falls. We had gone last winter when we were in NY but it was too cold then to really enjoy them.

So we went back inside the visitor center and got the map and info about The Falls. We then drove east for about 4 hours to Niagara Falls, Ontario, Canada. Our Lola doesn’t work in Canada, so without the guidance of our GPS, we have to rely on paper maps only.

Once we got there we found parking and walked a mighty distance to check out the rushing water. It was dark by now and there were tons of tourists speaking all different languages. We decided to wait for the fireworks that started at 10 pm. They were magnificent over The Falls, but unfortunately they didn’t last long.

Next we tried to find a place to park for the night. Without a GPS or internet access, in such a crowded tourist area, this wasn’t an easy task. We were exhausted. As we drove around we saw a Tim Horton’s in a small shopping strip and decided to stay there. Tim Horton’s and some of the other stores here are open 24 hours.

Spirit of Detroit

2009-07-28T00:00:00.001-04:00

After we got up and ready to go, we noticed the fridge was out. Bernie checked the propane and realized it was empty. When we went to return the RedBox movies, we saw that the screen had been shot the night before so we couldn’t return the movies.

Bernie went inside Walgreens to borrow the yellow pages to find a place to refill the propane. The clerk knew of a place and wrote down directions for us, that was very helpful and it saved us some time.

We went to find another RedBox and then the U-Haul place to get our propane filled. The guy who helped us, Billy, was very nice and had a lot of questions about our trip and our life on the road.

Next went to see the Heidelberg Project. This project was started by a man who was troubled by the effect of the Detroit riots on his neighborhood. With the help of his wife and grandfather, they cleaned up the vacant lots. Then using the found objects they collected, started transforming the area into a massive art environment.

Everything is decorated here, the houses, the trees, the streets and the sidewalks. We saw everything from stuffed animals hung all over a house, to a sculpture of doors piled high, to shoes stuffed inside a stove. This is truly a unique place. www.heidelberg.org

After that we went to Belle Isle Park, an island park in the Detroit River which is the largest island park in the US. We drove around the whole island looking for the beach. As we got closer we saw a big slide with a pool. It looked really fun so Bernie had to do it. Then she went into Lake Huron for a swim while Mar read her book on the sand.

Then we drove to Hart Plaza in downtown Detroit to see the Michigan Labor Legacy Landmark. This monument has two arches with a gap in between representing the labor movement. Hart Plaza had several other monuments, like an Underground Railroad memorial and a huge sculpture ofa hanging arm with a fist.

We also saw the Spirit of Detroit across the street, a large bronze statue of a seated figure holding in one hand a sphere with rays symbolizing God, and on the other hand, a family group symbolizing all human relationships.

Then we went to check out Mexicantown. We saw several of their stores and had dinner at the Mexicantown Restaurant. We split the trio appetizer for dinner and M ar got one of their homemade tamales. The food was pretty good but the margarita was better. We stayed in their huge parking lot for the night. www.mexicantownrestaurant.com

Found

2009-07-27T00:00:00.001-04:00

We had fun playing tourists today in Ann Arbor MI. We took the tour of Zingerman’s. First we checked out their bakeshop and creamery, which are next door to each other. At the bakeshop wesampled the sour cream coffeecake (their best seller) and the Summer Fling Coffeecake, with lime and coconut. They were both pretty good but too sweet for our taste. At the creamery we sampled the fresh mozzarella cheese. Mar found it delicious but Bernie didn’t like it.

Zingerman’s has a passport for their tour. By collecting signatures on the passport at their four locations, you get a free Zingerman’s tshirt. So we headed to downtown to complete our passports at their restaurant and deli. www.zingermans.com

Once we had our new tshirts we went to explore downtown Ann Arbor. This is a delightful town. We found Braun Court, with little shops surrounding a courtyard with tables under the shade of trees. Here we went to Common Language, a very cool bookstore where we had a nice chat with the manager. Mar found an anklet here she really liked. She’s been searching for one for a while and finally found the right one. www.glbtbooks.com

Across the street, we went to Kerrytown, a unique collection of shops in a three story building. There was a paper shop with beautiful hand made papers and a fresh market with all kinds of goodies. Upstairs there is a store called “Found”, where they sell interesting art made from found objects. www.kerrytown.com

We had dinner at Café Habana. Bernie had the Cuban sandwich and Mar had the Media Noche. We both agreed that Mar’s sandwich was better. We were just glad to have found this place and be able to eat Cuban food again, it’s been a while. www.cafehabanas.com

On the way back to Bella we saw a really cute cake shop and went in. We were pleasantly surprised to find out that the owner has been on the Food Network Challenge several times. We got two cupcakes to go, one chocolate on chocolate and one malted chocolate. Unfortunately we were a little disappointed with the cupcakes. They were a bit dry and not very chocolaty.www.cakenouveau.com

After that we hit the road again. We drove east about 45 minutes to Detroit MI. We found a Walgreens where got a movie from RedBox and parked for the night.

The Beatles

2009-07-26T00:00:00.002-04:00

After getting milk and the Sunday paper at Walmart we were ready to go. We drove east about an hour to Kalamazoo MI. First we went to the visitor center in downtown Kalamazoo. The center was closed and so was most of the town.

We then went to Kindleberger Park in Parchment MI, about five minutes away. In summer there are free concerts at the park every Sunday and lucky for us, today’s concert was a tribute to the Beatles. www.kindleberger.org

We got there extra early and got a great parking spot. While waiting for the concert to start, Mar read the Sunday paper and looked online for things to do in Michigan, while Bernie worked on the new jewelry she’s creating.

The concert started at 6:30 pm and there were lots of people. The group is called Shout and they are very good, they even dress like the Beatles and have the same haircuts. The concert was fun, there was crowd participation and we even got up to dance. www.shouttribute.com

After the concert we left Parchment and drove east another hour and a half to Ann Arbor MI. We listened to our Beatles cd while driving and sang along to pass the time. When we got to Ann Arbor it was already late. We found the Zingerman Bakeshop and parked there for the night.

Back to the beach

2009-07-25T00:00:00.002-04:00

After our cup of coffee we headed out and drove north about an hour to South Haven MI. We did not take the highway again today. Lately we have done all our driving on back roads. It has been nice to see the small towns and the many farms along the way.

Once there we went to the South Haven Center for the Arts. They have some very quirky exhibits at this time. The one downstairs are sculptures using recycled objects. It’s very interesting to see "art" made from lid rings, plastic bags, hangers, and other common objects. The exhibit upstairs is by an artist who does pictures using hair. Yes, real human hair. It sounds weird but the pictures were quite nice. www.southhavenarts.org

There is an Irish store right next door. Bernie is part Irish so of course we had to check it out. It was a very cute store with lots of great gifts. The owner was there and she let us use her hose to fill up our water tank. Then we walked to the visitor center where we got some information about Michigan.

Next we headed to the beach. We were lucky to find parking right next to the sand. We set out to walk down the pier to look at the lighthouse. We sat on the edge and relaxed while taking in the beauty of this place.

We walked back to Bella because we were hungry. After dinner we decided to go for a walk on the beach. By then the sun was going down and it was a bit chilly so we didn’t get in the water but we got our feet wet.

On our way back to Bella it started to rain and we got soaked. After changing, Mar decided to surprise Bernie by going to get ice cream. While we were waiting in line it rained again and everyone tried to huddle under the eves. We split the brownie sundae with chocolate peanut butter ice cream. It was really good. www.shermanicecream.com

On the way there we had seen a Walmart just down the street so we decided to go there to park for the night.

Touchdown Jesus

2009-07-24T00:00:00.002-04:00

Today we went to the American Countryside Farmers Market in Elkhart IN. This is an indoors market with a food court and two stories of stands selling produce, meats, baked goods, ice cream, clothing, jewelry, antiques, quilts, toys, you name it.

They had free health screenings at the Healthy Living Corner today so we went to have our cholesterol, glucose, body fat, and blood pressure checked. We were especially interested in the cholesterol screening. Mar’s is ok and Bernie still needs to work on lowering hers.

This market is huge and it was a nice place to look around. We got some plums and spinach from the produce stand. www.americancountryside.us

Then we drove west about twenty minutes to the University of Notre Dame in South Bend IN. We went to the visitor center and watched the eleven minute video about the history of the university.

Then we went to see Touchdown Jesus and the Golden Dome. Then Bernie went to mass at the Basilica of the Sacred Heart. She went to the Grotto and drank the water there so maybe it will help her cholesterol.

Next we drove around downtown town a bit and then decided to go to Walmart to park for the night.

New look for Bella and the Road

2009-07-24T00:00:00.000-04:00

After a year on the road, it was time to give our blog a new look. Hope you like it!

Please note that if you're reading this blog, this is our secondary blog, our backup blog. This blog is called Bella 'on' the Road.

Our main blog is called Bella 'and' the Road. It is more complete with more pictures, take a look here: Bella and the Road

Once there, scroll all the way down to see the slideshows and please join the Friends of Bella there, we'll appreciate it. Thanks for reading!

Four Winds

2009-07-23T00:00:00.004-04:00

We had a small change in plans. We found out about the free tours at the Four Winds factory and since Bella is a Four Winds, we decided to do that today and check out to the farmers market tomorrow instead.

So we headed to Four Winds and took the tour with five other people, most of them from Florida too.

We saw the A wing, this is where class A motorhomes are made. We really wished we could have seen the class C wing instead. The guide was very nice and it was interesting to see the different stages of building a motorhome.

We haven’t had any luck finding rv junkyards in the area so we went to the parts department at the factory, since we were already there, but they close at 4 pm and the tour was over at 4:30 pm. No luck there either.

We then went to Walmart to get a few groceries, we rented a movie from RedBox, and got gas for $2.33.

Then we went back to the American Countryside Farmers Market, where we parked for the night, so we can go in and see it tomorrow.

RV museum

2009-07-22T00:00:00.001-04:00

We think everyone should visit the RV Museum and Hall of Fame in Elkhart IN. We spent several hours there today exploring the many travel trailers and motorhomes, from very early models to some very modern ones. It was so much fun walking around and comparing the differences. We were able to walk through most of them. www.rvmhhalloffame.org

After the museum we located a few more of the gardens and murals of the Quilt Gardens Tour, including the one at Linton’s Enchanted Gardens which was the largest quilt garden we’ve seen so far. www.lintons.com

Then we went to find the house Bernie was born in. There is always something interesting about “going home", even if you can’t remember that home.

Next we went to the American Countryside Farmers Market to park for the night, so we can check it out tomorrow.

Windchimes

2009-07-21T00:00:00.001-04:00

We woke up in downtown Elkhart IN, with the river on our right and downtown on our left. We hung out for a while when we first got up. Mar was working and Bernie was doing some woodwork.

A little later we looked out our window and saw a coffee shop called The Grind. We decided to go take a look. Upon entering we were struck by this hip place. There was cool artwork on the walls, comfy couches, and bookshelves with books, magazines, and games. We could have spent hours there.

Then we walked to the RiverWalk. This is a fun walk along the Elkhart River. On the way there we found one of the quilts of the Quilt Gardens Tour. The RiverWalk has a splash park where little kids were running around and having fun. There is also a manmade waterfall.

While we were there Bernie got a phone call from a family friend, they haven’t seen each other in over twenty years. So we went to visit Doris and Roger Stutsman. We had a very nice visit with them and then had to leave to make it in time for Bernie’s class at the Elkhart Environmental Center at 6 pm.

Bernie went to a class to learn how to make windchimes with recycled silverware. Angie was the teacher and about fifteen other ladies attended. Bernie’s table partners were funny and it was great watching them make their creations. Angie was a perfect teacher who was actually working overtime to teach this class.

Next we went to a free concert by the Elkhart Municipal Band at McNaughton Park. We had a picnic while listening to the band. The park is on the river and covered by trees. After the concert we walked the park near the river. It was a beautiful night and the weather was perfect.

We then went to the RV Museum to park for the night.

The walk and the fair

2009-07-20T00:00:00.001-04:00

When we left Walmart today we headed to Wakarusa IN for the Waky Walk. The walk takes you through this small, friendly downtown while stopping at different locations.

Our favorite stop was the Dime Store, which is known for its jumbo jelly beans. We got to see their giant jelly bean quilt and Mar got a bag of assorted jumbo jelly beans for her daughter, who loves jelly beans. Jane rang up the purchase and Jen wrapped the package with great care. Mar went to the post office across the street to mail it right away. www.jumbojellybeans.com

Then we went to check out the ‘wall of drawers’ at the hardware store, where the gentleman said most people around those parts have remained loyal customers. The big hardware mega stores have not affected this small hardware store. Then we walked to the jewelry store where we talked with the owner for some time.

We made our way up and down streets that seemed like from another era. We found the lovely garden quilt and a beautiful mural on the wall, both part of the Quilt Gardens Tour.

We made another stop at the Dime Store. Bernie told Jen and Jane all about our trip and they were very enthusiastic listeners, with lots of questions and suggestions. When Jen heard we were not going to the fair because of the price of the tickets, she gave us two free tickets. Lucky for us she had extras and we were so grateful!

We then headed to the Elkhart County 4H Fair, the second largest in the country! Once there we wondered around from booth to booth and in and out of livestock showrooms. We saw Miss America riding on an old fashioned fire wagon pulled by 6 draft horses. We saw the rides but were too chicken to ride any of them.

Then we decided we could make an exception to our healthy eating plan and had fried dough with powered sugar. Our feet were sore and our tummies full when we left. Thank you Jen so much for the fun evening!

We then made our way to Elkhart IN, where Bernie was born. She is excited to be here. We found the Burton-Upon-Trent Park and parked for the night.

Quilt gardens

2009-07-19T00:00:00.001-04:00

When we first arrived in Northern Indiana a couple of days ago, our first stop was the visitor center where we picked up a free two cd set about the Heritage Trail.

The cd covers 90 miles of a nationally recognized scenic route through Amish country. Along this trail, the Quilt Gardens Tour can be found this time of year.

Which is what we’ve been doing the past couple of days: listening to the cd, learning about the area and its history, and stopping at several places where either flower gardens or murals on the sides of buildings have been turned into replicas of gorgeous, colorful quilts. www.quiltgardenstour.com

It has been a fun way to see more of the Indiana countryside, with the farmhouses lining the roads, the high corn stalks, the beautiful prairies, and the smell of cows. Yes, the smells are included too.

Along the way we shared the road with many of the Amish who live in the area. We have seen lots of buggies with horses parked in parking lots. We even saw a husband asleep at "the wheel" of his buggy while he waited for his wife and children who were shopping.

The Quilt Gardens Tour includes 16 quilt gardens and 16 quilt murals in seven communities. It has been a wonderful and rewarding scavenger hunt.

Gangster watch

2009-07-18T00:00:00.002-04:00

Today was a fun day and the weather was marvelous. We left the campground and headed into town. In true tourist fashion we visited what we could that was free.

First we went to Yoder's Meat & Cheese Company of Shipshewana IN. They have a huge assortment of Amish cheeses, meats, and other products. We got some really good sliced turkey for sandwiches. Tasting all the cheese was fun again today because we love cheese. www.yodersmeatshoppe.com

Then we went to the Courtyard of Arts. This courtyard is nestled amongst other businesses, some of which were closed on this Saturday afternoon. The gardens and the outside of the shops make this quite an adorable place. www.courtyardofarts.com

Next we walked down the block to the old fashioned ice cream social at the Blue Gate. The ice cream was home made vanilla and you could watch them make it. The street was closed to traffic where they had live music, games, pony rides, and carriage rides. www.bluegaterestaurant.com

After our ice cream we drove to Goshen IN and found the South Side Soda Shop, featured in the Food Network show Diners, Drive-ins, and Dives. Bernie had the cheese steak sandwich and Mar had the veggie sandwich, both were nicely done.

We also got a mug of chili to try it because it was on the show. The chili was good and meaty, but a bit too spicy for us. They bake their own Limpa bread, we liked the texture of the bread but the flavor was a bit too unusual. www.southsidesodashopdiner.com

Driving back we saw on a corner of Main Street a tower post where police used to keep watch for gangsters coming to rob the banks on the opposite three corners. It is located right in front of the courthouse.

After that we went to Walmart to park for the night and got a couple of movies from RedBox.

Amish country

2009-07-17T00:00:00.001-04:00

We got up and got ready to go quickly today. Turns out most places close by 5 pm in Amish country so we wanted to get an early start. Before we left, the school gave us permission to get water for our fresh water tank so that took care of one of the things we had to do today.

On our way we drove by a barn completely covered in license plates. We had to turn around because of course, we had to take a picture. Then we saw Rialta Heaven and decided to stop to check them out. Back when we first started looking at RVs we considered getting a Rialta but it didn’t work out. Bella looks so big in comparison.

We drove north for 40 minutes to Nappanee IN and there we went to the welcome center. This is a great visitor center with many different exhibits, there is even an old fashioned house that you can walk through.

We drove another half hour and made a quick stop at the Walmart in Goshen IN to get a couple of things.

After driving another 20 minutes we found the Deutsche Kase Haus cheese factory in Middlebury, IN. They have free samples available of all their cheeses. They were all very good and the prices are very reasonable. Bernie picked the yogurt cheese and Mar got the white sharp cheddar cheese. We also decided to get their delicious peanut butter spread, which we got to sample too.

After that it was getting close to dinnertime so we headed to Das Dutchman Essenhaus for some Amish style cooking. Mar had the roast beef and Bernie had the turkey. We both liked the roast beef better, it was really good. After dinner, we walked around the shops there for some window shopping. www.essenhaus.com

Then we decided to drive over to Shipshewana IN, about 15 minutes away. As we drove by the flea market we noticed a campground towards the back with very few RVs because the flea market is closed. So we decided to stay here tonight so we can plug in and recharge the batteries because we have not been driving all that much the past few days. www.tradingplaceamerica.com

Free play

2009-07-16T00:00:00.003-04:00

Today we left Fort Wayne IN and drove about twenty minutes to the post office in Churubusco, IN to pick up our mail.

We got an extra package in the mail today. Mar handed Bernie the package and she was very excited to open it. It had two lightweight pants, one shirt, and three books. One of our friends, Kate, was having a yard sale because she’s moving and thought of us so she wanted to send us some things. We love the goodies we got from our friend Kate!

Then we drove west about an hour to Winona Lake IN. There we went to Grace College for the Master Works Festival. This is four-week classical performing arts training program with tons of free music, dance, and theatre performances, open to the public. www.masterworksfestival.org

We came to see the performance of “Our Town” at 8 pm tonight. They had lots of parking so we found a shaded spot towards the back. While we waited, Bernie tried to set up the satellite dish we just got. The installation manual wasn’t much help so she called customer service, but that didn’t help much either, she couldn’t finish it today.

After dinner, we went to see the play, it was pretty good and entertaining. Then we went back to Bella as it started to rain, so we stayed in the parking lot for the night.

Beds on wheels

2009-07-15T00:00:00.003-04:00

As we were getting ready to go, Bernie went outside to take care of some things and noticed that there were yellow splatters all over the side of Bella, towards the back.

This made us realize what that noise was last night. The pangs we heard were from a drive by shooting with a paintball gun! We were shocked!

Thankfully the paint was still wet so we were able to wipe it all off with paper towels. We know this was a random act, being at the wrong place at the wrong time, but still makes us realize the vulnerability of our little home to the outside world.

Once Bella was all clean, we headed to downtown Forty Wayne IN and got an amazing parking spot. We went to see the Bed Race, one of the events of the Three Rivers Festival.

A bed race is just what it sounds like. People put wheels on all kinds of beds and then run while pushing the bed with one person on it, from one end of the street to the other. This was so funny. There were so many people out to see this race, the street was crammed and there was a festive atmosphere.

After the race we went to the Foellinger Outdoor Theatre to see The Tale of Despereaux. This was a free showing in an outdoors half shell with real theater type seating. The place seats several hundred people and it was pretty full, and there were tons of kids everywhere of course. We really enjoyed the movie.

After the movie, we stayed in the parking lot. We found some trees to hopefully get some shade for the morning sun tomorrow.

Noise in the night

2009-07-14T00:00:00.002-04:00

Bernie walked to the 24 hour gym and did a work out that she really enjoyed. She burned 200 calories!

The tour of the gym, the workout and shower took pretty much all afternoon. By the time Bernie got back to Bella it was evening already so we decided to stay put. For dinner, we decided to try out the ribs place in this plaza. While we were walking there we saw a RedBox and got a movie for tonight.

Tuesday night is the rib tips special at Ziffle’s Rib Bar. We got the special with a garden salad. The salad was very good and the rib tips were pretty good. We were good because we did not eat all the fries that came with it.

Back in Bella we watched the movie we got from RedBox and then, because we had free wi-fi, we watched the Great American Road Trip on NBC.com. It is a show about seven families traveling Route 66 in their RVs. We had a few laughs, the show is so cute.

After that Bernie went to sleep while Mar continued to work on her laptop. A while later we heard a strange noise and couldn’t figure out what it was. It sounded like several pangs on Bella, they were pretty loud so it woke Bernie up. We looked out the windows and didn’t see anything. We waited and didn’t hear anything else so we thought maybe something fell from the tree we were under, so we went back to sleep.

Ice cream social

2009-07-13T00:00:00.003-04:00

The first part of our day was spent taking care of Bella. Bernie did a major cleaning in the bathroom. With so many nooks and crannies, it took her half the day to get it all done. Then it was time for fun …

It isn’t every day you get to have ice cream while listening to live music sitting in your favorite lawn chair, but that is what we got to do today. As part of the Three Rivers Festival in Fort Wayne IN, the Indiana-Purdue University hosted an ice cream social tonight with music by the Fort Wayne Area Community Band.

We sat on the lawn with hundreds of other people, enjoying the music and our fifty-cent per scoop ice cream with chocolate sprinkles.

Then we found a 24 hour gym because Bernie wanted to work off that ice cream. It turns out they don't keep them staffed 24 hours so she couldn’t go in. We tried to find another place but had no success. We stayed in the gym parking lot for the night.

Chalk Walk

2009-07-12T00:00:00.003-04:00

Today we got ready to leave. After packing everything up, including our new satellite dish, we hit the road. We didn’t get very far when Bernie remembered she forgot something so we had to turn around and go back.

We hit the road again and drove west about an hour and a half to Fort Wayne IN.

We went straight to downtown to the Three Rivers Festival. We got excellent parking and then walked down Main Street, which was closed to traffic, to see the Chalk Walk. www.trfonline.org

This is a competition hosted by the Museum of Art where dozens of people draw chalk masterpieces on the street. We really enjoyed looking at all the colors and creativity. www.fwmoa.org

Next we went to Walgreen's for some things we needed and found a place next door to park for the night under some nice, big shade trees. All that shade sure will be nice in the morning.

For the road

2009-07-11T00:00:00.001-04:00

Today Bernie got to ride a John Deere lawn mower for the first time. She was asked to mow the lawn and this is not your average lawn, it is probably close to an acre.

The next thing on the list was cleaning the pool. This was actually nice after mowing the lawn, but she found out that getting the leaves from the bottom of the pool was hard work.

Today Mar did the laundry while watching the Food Network, her favorite channel.

Then we found out that Gene and Julie were heading off to a campground for the night with all the kids and their grandson. They left us in charge of the house.

While fixing dinner, Bernie decided to prepare some meals for the road and packaged enough meals for about five days. Then she sat down to watch her favorite channel, HGTV, while Mar caught up on her reading.

Cooling off

2009-07-10T00:00:00.002-04:00

Bernie spent today weeding out a vegetable garden for Julie. It took pretty much all day.

Mar did the laundry today. She found a tv in the house where she could watch her favorite channel, the Food Network, and disappeared for most of the day.

When Bernie was almost done with the garden, Mar picked up a pitchfork to help her finish up.

When the job was done and they were all sweaty and tired, they sat down by the pool, stuck their feet in the water, and had a margarita to cool off.

Later Julie and her nephew knocked on Bella’s door. Bernie sat outside with them as they talked about RVing and all kinds of things.

Dish for Bella

2009-07-09T00:00:00.001-04:00

Today we had to go grocery shopping so we went to the Walmart in Ottawa OH. Now that we are trying to eat healthy our shopping list is a little different than before. Shopping takes a little longer while we read and compare labels.

Next we headed to meet new folks in Dupont OH, about 15 minutes away. Dupont is a really small town, the whole town is about 15 blocks, with one traffic light, and no businesses. Julie and Gene emailed us to offer us their extra satellite dish, tripod, and receiver that they no longer need. It is all about six months old. This is great for us!

As we pulled into their driveway the first thing we saw was their rig, it is a huge 42 feet class A motorhome. We got the tour and were amazed at how much room there is, our Bella could fit in there a few times!

The town of Dupont is having a community garage sale this weekend. We sat outside with Julie getting to know each other, while people came by for her sale. It was a nice day to just sit and relax in the afternoon sun.

Julie's teenage daughter needed the battery cables cleaned in her car so Bernie did that for her. Then Juile and Gene bought us dinner, their daughter went to get wings for everyone.

After dinner, Bernie went with them to the house of Julie's sister, two doors down, to learn how to use a land level. On the way back Gene mentioned going to get ice cream. You should have seen the smile on Bernie’s face. They went to Twister’s and brought home a chocolate sundae for Mar.

Julie and her family are all very nice. It has been a pleasure to be here and meet them. Tomorrow Julie has some work for Bernie so it looks like we will stay a couple of days.

Tolerance

2009-07-08T00:00:00.001-04:00

Today we drove north about an hour to Wapakoneta OH and found a place called the Temple of Tolerance. We were not exactly sure what we were going to see but with that name we knew we had to check it out. www.narrowlarry.com/nltot.html

It is amazing what people can do with their backyards. This temple is a huge backyard converted through years of labor and love, into a space to slow down and explore. As you meander down pathways you find all kinds of structures made out of found objects, everything from bowling balls to a metal door once used in a prison.

Along the way there are several places you can just sit to enjoy. This labyrinth back yard is covered in some places with vines so thick you can't even see the sky and in others it is wide open. There are a series of iron gates taking you into the next section and then the next. We had a wonderful time here.

Then we drove north about an hour and half to Continental OH. As we drove it seemed the towns kept getting smaller and smaller. Once we stopped we scoped out a small park to park for the night. It was a beautiful night with a slight breeze so we decided to sit outside and eat dinner in the park gazebo.

Movie special

2009-07-07T00:00:00.001-04:00

We went to Curves today and spoke with the owners who were very helpful and answered all our questions. They spent a lot of time explaining how things work and how things are done at Curves. It was very helpful information and much needed advice. We just need to figure out how to make it work for us on the road.

The Curves we went to is located at 4479 Far Hills in Kettering, OH, just outside Dayton OH.

To escape the heat, this evening we found a movie theater that has a Tuesday special and all movies are $1.75. At that price we decided on two, which took up our evening and the warmest part of the day. www.danbarry.com

Then we found parking in an empty lot across from the movies and stayed for the night.

Clifton Gorge

2009-07-06T00:00:00.002-04:00

We woke today in our secret garden with the sound of silence all around us. After our cup of coffee we started getting ready to go.

Cheryl asked Bernie to show her how to use her propane camping stove and how to set up her tent by herself. Then David and Cheryl gave us some items from their garage sale, including a toaster oven. It takes up most of our counter space but may be more useful to us than the propane stove.

We were finally ready to say goodbye. We climbed in Bella and were off to see Clifton Gorge at John Bryan State Park, about twenty minutes away.

We found the stairs down to the gorge and hiked for about an hour along the river. This is a beautiful, peaceful place. We found our way to a spot near the river where Mar sat for a rest while Bernie explored the water.

After this we drove another twent y minutes to go see the Meyers Medical Clinic in Dayton OH, which was designed by Frank Lloyd Wright. There was no mistaking his building, it bore many typical characteristics of FLW’s designs. We enjoyed identifying some of those, such as his use of horizontal lines, glass corners, and geometric shapes and angles.

Next we decided to find a gym because we want to start working out. This will be good for Bernie's cholesterol and for us in general. We found a local gym where Bernie got a guess pass, used a couple of the machines, and took a shower.

Next we located a Curves nearby. It was already closed so we parked there for the night, and will check it out tomorrow.

Raspberries and fireflies

2009-07-05T00:00:00.002-04:00

Mar woke up early and happy, she gets so excited every time we go see a house by Frank Lloyd Wright. Last night we were able to park pretty close to the house so we just walked there when it was time for our tour.

Once there we found out we were the only ones on this tour, what a treat for us. The Westcott house is a prairie style house, much different from the other FLW houses we’ve seen. www.westcotthouse.org

The house has a slight Asian feel on the outside. The inside is done in wood and colored plaster walls. We learned about FLW’s innovative use of rainwater. He designed an elaborate system to funnel the water back to the house. This is quite interesting since this system is used today in many green buildings.

After this we drove about five miles to the home of Cheryl and David. Cheryl had sent us an email to invite us to raid their garden and park in their driveway.

We arrived in the early evening and they were very kind and welcoming. After connecting the water and electric, they took us for a walk on their ten acres of land. Then they took us to their garden, where we were able to pick green peppers, squash, rhubarb, lettuce, raspberries, beets, chives, and all kinds of goodies.

Then Cheryl showed us her secret camping place, where we could have a fire, sit and relax. Cheryl surprised us by bringing out some chicken breasts to cook over the grill with all our veggies. We sat around in this small fort like place enjoying the lovely evening while getting to know each other. The weather was perfect for sitting outside. Even the bugs didn’t bother us too much.

After dinner Cheryl and David invited us into their home for dessert. We had vanilla ice cream with fresh raspberries from their garden. It was delicious and refreshing.

Then they gave us the tour of their home, which was built in 1890. It is a beautiful house with great historic touches. They have lived here for over thirty years. Mar had started the laundry earlier and it was now done.

With our clean laundry we went back to Bella. We are parked in a small field next to the house, with pear trees and a big beautiful red barn. There are tons of fireflies everywhere and the stars are bright in the sky. Life is grand!

More fireworks

2009-07-04T00:00:00.001-04:00

Today we woke up to drizzling rain. We took the movie back to RedBox and rented another one because we got a code for a free rental because of the holiday weekend. Then we took off towards Springfield OH, about an hour away.

On the way we stopped at an Amish store to look around. They had lots of wood furniture and lovely home decor. Then we drove through a small town that seemed interesting so we decided to stop to go explore.

We went around the block to park behind the main street shops and to our surprise there were murals on the back of the buildings. These were done very well, huge and colorful, and were quite interesting.

We then walked Main Street in Yellow Springs OH. Most of the businesses were closed because of the holiday but we found both a bookstore and a coffee shop that were open. The town seems interesting and modern, with a big emphasis on green living and artful expression. I turned out to be pretty cool for an unexpected stop along the way.

We made it to Springfield and found the Frank Lloyd Wright house where we have reservations for a tour tomorrow.

We found parking just around the corner and had a big, yummy salad for dinner. Then we heard fireworks going off and got to watch another fireworks show tonight!

Fireworks

2009-07-03T00:00:00.002-04:00

We spent a wonderful, relaxing day in the parking lot of the plaza where we found the Joseph Beth Bookstore. The bookstore itself was amazing and so pretty. It is a huge store, with all kinds of great things to look at, not just books. We spent quite some time just looking around this store. www.josephbeth.com

Then Mar went back to Bella to do her computer work while Bernie went to explore the rest of the plaza.

When Bernie got back we decided to hit the road. Just as we left there we spotted a Bonefish Restaurant, which is where Mar had wanted to go for her birthday dinner but we could not find one before. We decided to go to this one because we have been wanting to eat more fish. The food was amazing in a great atmosphere, and it was very nice to just sit and relax.

When we left there we drove north about half an hour to Lebanon OH. As we were driving we got to see several fireworks along the way.

In Lebanon we stopped at Walmart to pick up some things. Then we decided to just get a movie from RedBox and stay in the Walmart parking lot for the night. We sat and watched the fireworks in the distance here too.

The weather has been wonderful lately, we have not needed the AC at all. There has been a slight cool breeze during the days and at night there is a bit of a chill in the air.

Burger and no salsa

2009-07-02T00:00:00.002-04:00

Today we awoke in this tiny village with the cutest streets. The downtown is so very quaint, with beautiful buildings in older styles but with fresh coats of paint and lots of greenery. The streets are brick and the whole town makes you feel as if you've stepped back in time.

First we went to visit The Sanctuary of Nancy Noel, ho used in a beautiful old church. Every wall is covered with the artist’s paintings, her specialty are portraits of children and animals. They have a restaurant that serves beautifully decorated fine chocolates and desserts. www.nanoel.com

After taking in the art we decided to walk the streets. It was a slightly chilly day, reminding us of fall weather, which makes it perfect for walking around town. We saw several small shops and then stumbled upon a coffee house.

We went in to check it out and were pleasantly surprised to find out it was their happy hour. We were able to try two different iced coffees for the price of one. We got one eagle mocha and one regular mocha. They were both very good and refreshing. www.eaglecreekcoffee.com

On our way back to Bella, Bernie spotted an art gallery and decided to peak in. Salem Art Gallery is full of vivid and brilliant colors that just seem to take you away to faraway tropical beaches. Bernie spent some time talking with the couple who run the shop, Bob and Lanita Salem. www.salemartreproductions.com

Then we left Zionsville and drove southeast for two hours to Cincinnati OH. We headed to Terry's Turf Club for the best burger in Ohio, according to the Food Network Magazine.

When we got there the line was out the door. It was almost 8 pm and when we asked how long the wait would be, they said at least an hour. We decided to wait. We figured if the locals are willing to wait for this burger, we must be in for a real treat.

We sat outside to wait. To help pass the time we sipped a Margarita while shelling peanuts. Terry’s Turf Club is a small place, with seating for only 40 people. An hour later, we got to our table.

With peanut shells all over the floor and neon lights blinking away on every wall, we placed our order for a burger with swiss cheese, lettuce, tomato, grilled onions, and a wine and mushroom sauce. We were already being bad so we decided to forgo the fries.

The place was so crowded and the noise level so loud, it was really hard to carry on a conversation. We were starving by the time our burger came. This is one big burger, and not the greatest but it was pretty good. We don't think we would wait two hours for it again.

It was just past 10 pm when we left there. We drove ten minutes to Fountain Square in downtown to see if we could catch at least the end of the salsa concert there tonight. As we drove by we got to listen to the last song of the night.

We decided go to the Staples parking lot for free wi-fi. On the way there, we passed a bookstore with free wi-fi so we stopped there instead and parked for the night. www.josephbeth.com

More Benadryl

2009-07-01T00:00:00.002-04:00

Today we drove about fifteen minutes to City Market in Indianapolis IN. The website said they were open till 6 pm and we were disappointed to see row after row of empty booths.

Lucky for us one of the few still open was a produce stand. We purchased some arugula and an avocado. Then we walked the rest of the empty market till we made our way back out. www.indycm.com

Next we drove about ten minutes to the White River State Park and went to the visitor center there. This is a huge suburban park with lots to look at. We had decided to get our bikes down to take a look around the park, when it started to rain. We were so bummed out. It would have been a perfect place to ride our bikes. www.discovercanal.com

Bernie is out of Benadryl and since we also needed some groceries, we headed out to find a Walmart. There Bernie talked to the pharmacist about the rash on her face but she didn’t have any new or different advice.

We got the Benadryl, a few groceries, a movie from RedBox and headed out. We drove north for about 20 minutes to Zionsville IN. We found parking behind some shops, had our dinner, and watched the movie. We can't wait to go out exploring tomorrow.

One more night

2009-06-30T00:00:00.000-04:00

The weather has definitely changed in our favor. We are able to plug in at Camping World but we don't even need to turn on the air conditioner. We were even a bit chilly during the night last night. But no complaints from us, we are happy to have the change in temperature.

We don’t know if it was the recent heat, but Bernie has a rash of some kind on her face. The itching is driving her crazy. She has taken some Benadryl and it seems to help a bit, but the rash won’t go away.

Bernie went into Camping World with some questions about the stuff we need for Bella. She looked around, got some prices, and some suggestions. They don’t have the mirror and they recommended silicone for the leak in the shower. The problem is that the last time she used silicone it only took a few months for it to start peeling off.

By then it was getting late in the day so we decided to stay in the Camping World parking lot one more night. We had to return the movie to RedBox so we did that and then came right back to our spot.

We met Jeff, the general manager for this Camping World. He was very nice and we had a nice chat. Then we settled in for the night and had another healthy meal for our dinner.

A little cooler

2009-06-29T00:00:00.001-04:00

This morning we found out we were at the wrong post office and were given directions to the right one. On our way there we dropped off the RedBox movies at the same McDonald’s we got them from.

After getting our mail we drove north three hours to Greenwood IN. There we went to Camping World. They were already closed when we got there so we’ll stay here tonight and ask tomorrow about a replacement mirror for Bella.

The weather seems to be shifting and there is a definite coolness in the breeze. We are so happy for this.

Bernie found out recently that her cholesterol is a little high so we are trying to eat healthier. Tonight we had brown rice with squash, zucchini, onions, and mushrooms. It was pretty good.

Then we watched the movie we got from RedBox tonight and settled in for the night.

The mirror is gone

2009-06-28T00:00:00.002-04:00

Today was a perfect day to walk around Frankfort Avenue. We just happened upon this interesting area of Louisville KY, with many small shops to visit. Bernie ventured out early to walk around.

First she went to the corner bookstore. Charmichael’s Bookstore is small and very cute with a great selection of books. Bernie purchased the Sunday paper then headed to the coffee shop next door. www.carmichaelsbookstore.com

Heine Brothers’ Coffee is an eclectic and fun place. Just like a coffee shop should look, smell, and feel like. She got an iced coffee and then went back to Bella. www.heinebroscoffee.com

A little later Bernie went back to explore some more and found a consignment shop and a wine shop. The cashier at the wine shop mentioned a restaurant nearby that had been on the Throwdown show on the Food Network. We looked it up online and it sounded good so we decided to go there for dinner.

Lynn’s Paradise Café is quite a whimsical place. Fun is written all over the inside and out. We had the Hoppin Juan, their unique version of nachos with black beans and sweet mango salsa. Mar liked it more than Bernie did. www.lynnsparadisecafe.com

When we came out from the restaurant we were surprised to find Bella’s drivers side mirror smashed. Someone from the shop across the street came out to tell us that it had been a U-haul that knocked our mirror off and also the mirror of the Honda parked in front of us. They never even stopped.

Bernie cleaned up the glass off the street and then taped a small hand held mirror in place for now, until we can figure out what to do to get it fixed.

We then drove north about 20 minutes to Clarksville IN. We got a couple of movies from RedBox, found the post office, and parked for the night. It seems to be a little less warm tonight, maybe it is finally starting to cool off a bit, thank goodness.

A second look

2009-06-27T00:00:00.000-04:00

We took our time getting started today, we spent some time relaxing while looking up things to do in the area. Since we are so close to Kentucky, we decided to go to Louisville.

We had the address to two farmers markets that were open today till 7 pm. The first one was in the downtown YMCA parking lot, but it was already closed when we got there. So we went to the next one, about 20 minutes away and got some produce.

Then we went to W.W. Cousins, listed in the Food Network Magazine as the best burger in Kentucky. You order at the counter, wait for them to call your name, and then you take your burger to the toppings bar, with lots of goodies for you to choose from. It was a good burger, but not the best in our book.
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Louisville-KY/W-W-Cousins/111120548823

Then we drove around downtown Louisville admiring the buildings and the sidewalk art sculptures. There are life sized horses in almost every corner, all painted in different colors and patterns. We saw a parked limo completely covered in red shiny stones. It was so funky, we had to drive around the block to go back and take a second look.

Then we went to Fourth Street, a restaurant and shopping complex, where we walked round for a bit. www.4thstlive.com

Then we went to Waterfront Park, a huge park right on the Ohio River, with lots of different areas. We went to the waterplay area and got in the water up to our knees, joining all the kids there who were having so much fun. www.louisvillewaterfront.com

After that we got a movie from RedBox and parked for the night behind some cute shops on Frankfort Avenue to go exploring tomorrow.

One down, 49 to go

2009-06-26T00:00:00.002-04:00

Bernie finished yesterday the honey do list for both the old and new places. Today we did our final packing and then we hit the road but did not go all that far. We went into Bloomington IN to run some errands.

We went to Walmart to get milk and return the movies to RedBox. We went to Office Depot to send a fax. We went to the auto parts store to get a new gas cap, because ours broke.

We actually wanted to stick around until dinnertime so we could go try out the best burger in the state of Indiana, according to an article in the Food Network Magazine.

The restaurant is Farm Bloomington. It has both a funky farm feel and a new age feel. The two are mixed in the funky upholstery and the traditional chairs and even a collection of bedpans hanging on the wall next to the restroom.

The burger was a bison burger. It was a good, tasty burger. Not the best but it was a different taste and we were happy to try it out. It was a pretty big burger too, one was enough for the both of us. www.farm-bloomington.com

The FN article is about the 50 best burgers in the 50 states. We think it might be fun to try them all. The problem is, we’ve already been to half the states. Oh well, at least we have one less on the list now.

Then we drove south two hours and headed to the free concert in the park in Jeffersonville IN. By the time we got there they were already finished so we pushed on and went to the Founders Day Festival in Charlestown IN, about 20 minutes away.

We walked around the crafts tents and the food carts. We were still full from that bison burger so we weren’t even tempted. Then we walked around some more and Bernie got to shoot a paint ball gun for the first time. She was able to hit five out of the six targets dead on.

After that we sat down to listen to the live band play for a while. It was a hot night tonight. We returned to Bella, in a church parking lot across the street from the festival, to spend the night.

Off to work

2009-06-24T00:00:00.001-04:00

Today we woke for the second day in a row with lots of shade and didn't need the ac for some time. Mar's latin blood can handle the heat better than Bernie's northern blood, which seems to boil at low temps.

We had our coffee and waited for Merribeth to pick Bernie up to go work on her new house. She has a honey do list for the new house: hanging shelves, staining woodwork, some yard work, and more.

Bernie spent the day over there and finished up about half the list today. It was a productive day. At the end of the day, Merribeth lent Bernie her car to get back to Bella at the old house, so she can go back to the new house tomorrow morning and finish up that honey do list.

In the shade

2009-06-23T00:00:00.001-04:00

It doesn't take long to get Bernie going when there is work to be done. Today it was all outside yard work, with lots of bending over and pulling things out that grow where they’re not supposed to. She was out there working until almost 9 pm. Lucky for her the property is nearly all shaded.

Mar worked on her online classes - in the shade of course - and did the laundry. She also had the opportunity to take care of all the paperwork that seems to accumulate while we’re traveling. It’s nice to have the time to make phone calls, return emails, and write letters.

Tonight after Mar’s shower we noticed that there was water on the bathroom floor. We could not believe it. It might be that Bella is just a bit unlevel and the angle got the water going again.

We have some EternaBond left from the hole in the roof. Bernie used it to cover the shower corner in every angle possible. Then she took her shower and it seems to have taken care of the problem. Hopefully this will be the end of the water on the bathroom floor.

By then we were exhausted and decided to call it a night. Bella is parked under some huge, beautiful trees and the shade sure helps in the morning, when the sun comes out.

The 27th state

2009-06-22T00:00:00.001-04:00

After such a fun night at the drive in, it is very different to wake up here. The place is totally empty now, we are the only ones here, and it looks like that scene in the movies of the empty, lonely town with only a huge dust ball blowing through it.

We got ready to go and then drove east almost three hours to Bloomington IN. We did not take the highway, opting instead for the scenic route that took us through many small towns along the way. Time seems to have stood still in these towns. There is very little sign of modern progress. You can go miles and miles without seeing a fast food place or any mega stores. It is a nice change of pace.

After about an hour of driving, we crossed the state line from Illinois to Indiana, making it the 27th state we have visited since we started our trip last summer. If you scroll down to the bottom of this page, you can see a map of the states we’ve visited so far. The white ones are the ones we have left to see.

Once we got to Bloomington our gps, Lola, took us to Bernie's next job. Merribeth has moved to a new house and emailed us to hire Bernie to fix up a few things at her old place. This is where we’ll be staying while Bernie works.

When we got here we took a look around and hooked up the water and electric. We met Merribeth and her huge dog, a German Shepherd and Akita mix. We sat and spoke for some time while getting to know each other.

Then we called it a night and tomorrow Bernie will start her work here.

Closed on Sundays

2009-06-21T00:00:00.001-04:00

We woke up in the Barnes & Noble parking lot and it was hot. Even though we had parked in the shade, it was still too hot.

We went to see the Lawrence Memorial Library designed by Frank Lloyd Wright but it is closed on the weekends. We only got to see the outside which was not designed by FLW.

We then drove east an hour to Decatur IL to see the Scovill Oriental Gardens. The gardens were very beautiful with several sculptures, but somewhat overgrown, and we were disappointed at this.

We drove east another hour to Arcola IL. We went to the visitor center but it was closed. We drove by the Raggedy Ann and Raggedy Andy Museum, which was also closed. www.raggedyann-museum.org

We were sad about that but we got to see the Hippie Memorial while we were there and that was a pleasant surprise.

Then we drove south an hour and a half to Newton IL. First we stopped to get some groceries and then headed to the Fairview Drive-in to see “Up” and “Land of the Lost”. www.earlann.net

How do you spell fun? … The smell of popcorn in the air … lighting bugs flashing before the screen … the soft breeze drafting in the windows … kids laughing and people going to the snack bar … this was our night and we spent it at the drive in. That’s how we spell fun!

An architect and an arthitect

2009-06-20T00:00:00.002-04:00

We awoke quite excited to go see our next Frank Lloyd Wright building, the Kraus House in Kirkwood MO. We drove a couple of minutes from the church parking lot and were the first ones there. We met our tour guide, Larry, and were pleased to find out he is a huge FLW fan too.

The tour was great. Larry was able to tell us a lot about the history of the house. This house features angles not typically found in any building, with the same geometric shape repeated over and over again in every aspect of construction. FLW exaggerated this point by using the same angles even in the construction of the beds. www.ebsworthpark.org

There we met an architect and her husband. We gave them the address to our blog and they gave us the address to their blog. They have built the house of their dreams and invited us to visit them in NC. www.cassilhaus.typepad.com

Then we drove north about two hours to Springfield IL where we were able to catch the last tour of the Dana Thomas House. www.dana-thomas.org

This one was done early in FLW’s career and it is quite different from his other houses we’ve seen so far. The house has 35 rooms, it is 12,000 square feet, and has three main levels. The windows are all stained glass that FLW designed.

It is a beautiful house and quite impressive. But his later projects are much more characteristic of how FLW designed organic buildings. This makes for an interesting comparison and helps to understand the development of his vision.

Next we found a Staples to make some copies and then went to Barnes & Noble to get out of the heat. We spent the night in their parking lot.

Back on the road

2009-06-19T00:00:00.001-04:00

Today was our last day at the campground. We checked out and went to find propane, because we were almost completely out. We found a Flying J, they had propane for $3 per gallon.

While we were there we decided to get gas too. Today gas was $2.45 per gallon before the discount with our Flying J card.

Then we went to the Community Christian Church in downtown Kansas City MO. One of five buildings in Missouri designed by Frank Lloyd Wright. This building is quite interesting and intriguing. www.community-christian.org

This church is done completely in stucco, which we have not seen before in any of the FLW buildings we’ve been to. However the typical characteristics of his design are obvious in the use of natural lighting, smaller doorframes and hallways, and his trademark fretwork.

Then we drove east almost four hours to Kirkwood MO, where we found a church parking lot to spend the night.

Mar's birthday

2009-06-18T00:00:00.001-04:00

Today we spent the day at the campground getting some serious R & R. It was terribly hot today so it was nice to be able to use the AC.

Mar was happy to watch the Food Network all day long.

Bernie was nice enough to do the laundry at the campground's laundromat as a present to Mar, since the laundry is Mar's chore.

Mar's kids sent her several books by some of her favorite authors and she was having a hard time deciding which one to read first.

Tonight dinner was a lovely steak with grilled veggies. We had chocolate cake and peanut butter ice cream for dessert, after singing happy birthday.

It was a perfect day and a wonderful birthday.

Bella to the campground

2009-06-17T00:00:00.003-04:00

It was a hot night last night. It was so hot this morning that the heat woke us up early. Once we were up we decided to go to a local coffee shop for some AC and wi-fi and iced coffee.

The coffee shop we found was a little store in a row of shops. It is called Muddy’s Coffee House. They have sandwiches and lots of interesting coffee drinks. We shared the turtle mocha iced coffee. It was delicious and refreshing. www.myspace.com/muddys

When we left there, we drove around downtown Kansas City MO. It is pretty neat for a downtown. There are unique sculptures and whimsical artwork almost everywhere you look. There is a wall made of recycled water bottles that actually looks like a waterfall.

We drove by the public library where the outside wall is covered with giant books spines. They are so realistic they almost look like you could pull them out to read them - if you were a giant, of course.

Bernie got to see the hotel Mar stayed in and the Convention Center she worked in, which is about two blocks from the hotel. The Convention Center is so big, she had to walk another 4-5 blocks once inside. She spent her days reading hundreds of student essays for eight hours a day. Mar got plenty of exercise both mentally and physically these past eight days. She is tired and her feet hurt.

Tomorrow is Mar’s birthday and she wants to spend it doing absolutely nothing. We decided to go to a campground so she could watch the Food Network while getting some much needed rest. There aren’t many campgrounds in the area but we called The Campus RV Park and got the last space they had available. www.campusrv.com

But first we headed to Walmart. Eight days ago we had to empty out the fridge and most of the pantry, so we had to stock up again.

Then we went to the campground in Independence MO. Bernie hooked up the water, electric, and cable. We turned on the AC for the first time since last year. Then Bernie made chicken alfredo pizza on the grill for our dinner tonight. We are happy to just stay put for a couple of days.

Back to Bella

2009-06-16T00:00:00.001-04:00

Today Mar woke up at the Marriot knowing that she did not have to go to work for the first time in eight days, and that felt good. All she had to do today was check out of the hotel and go pick up Bernie at the airport.

Bernie had a great visit with her family in Orlando and made it to the airport just in time for her flight. She took a two and half hour flight straight to Missouri. Then she took a shuttle to the parking lot where Mar and Bella were waiting for her.

While unpacking, we told each other stories of everything we did and filled each other in on things. Then we talked about what to do next and where to head to in the next couple of days. It was kind of late by then so we spent the night right there in the airport parking lot. The economy lot cost $5.50 for 24 hours.

A year on the road

2009-06-09T00:00:00.000-04:00

We started fulltiming a year ago. We moved into Bella on June 1, 2008. The time has gone so fast, it is hard to believe it’s been a year already.

We have driven 20,000 miles. We have seen 25 US states and 4 Canadian provinces. It has been one adventure after the other. We are not like the typical RVer. We hardly ever stay in campgrounds. We need to find work along the way to keep the tank full and the credit cards empty.

Bella has four 6 volt batteries and an 1800 watt inverter for most of our power needs. Bella also has a 4000 watt generator, but we rarely use it. We wish we could add some solar panels but so far the price of solar has kept us from doing that.

On the other hand we are just like all of you out there who are dreaming of traveling like this some day. It takes a lot of planning, tons of research, a bit of courage, and perhaps even a tiny bit of insanity. Whatever it takes, somehow we have done it.

For starters, we took our time to purchase the motorhome we wanted. This is crucial. It required intense research and much legwork. It almost felt like a second job for a while. It is important to spend time in different models and get a feel for what you like and dislike about them.

We made a list of those things and then dwindled the list down to the things we couldn’t live without. We found a 22 ft 2000 Ford v10 Four Winds Five Thousand, with a full kitchen and a full bathroom. We paid cash for Bella because we didn’t want payments. We were able to pay cash by selling our previous vehicles, which we owned free and clear too.

Once we bought Bella, Bernie remodeled the inside to suit our needs. We added laminate flooring in the living area, reupholstered the couch, and took out the dinette to add a permanent bed. Bella is the perfect home for us.

This trip has been a lot of fun. We have learned so much about the states we’ve visited. We have met many friendly people. We’ve had some wonderful meals and some amazing desserts.

We have seen some spectacular places. Like the sand dunes in the Outer Banks of North Carolina, the leaves changing colors in New England, a snowstorm in upstate New York, and scenic drives like the Natchez Trace, the Blue Ridge Parkway and the Skyline Drive. We have gone to sleep listening to the ocean waves. We have woken up on top of a mountain, next to a huge drop with a great waterfall.

It is a great idea to have some agendas, setting some goals, which help decide where to go next. We have decided to see all the Frank Lloyd Wright buildings and to go to as many Diner, Drive-ins, and Dives restaurants as we can manage. This gives us something to look forward to. And it adds to the fun!

We hope to continue to travel for another couple years. We want to visit the rest of the lower states and maybe visit Alaska and Mexico too. We would like to go back to Canada too. So far Bella has been the perfect travel partner, with no mechanical problems or worries. If she keeps it up, the adventure shall continue. Stay tuned.

This week

2009-06-08T00:00:00.003-04:00

Bernie got up early, packed her bags and caught the shuttle to the airport terminal. She made it to Orlando by evening, safe and sound. She will spend the next week visiting with her family.

Mar drove from the airport to the Kansas City Marriott Downtown. She will spend the next week there at the reading of the College Board Advance Placement Tests at the Kansas City Convention Center across the street from the Marriott.

Mar will be grading the psychology essays, along with over 400 psychology teachers from all over the country. They have a week to score 300,000 tests.

Free showers

2009-06-07T00:00:00.004-04:00

Today we woke up, got ready to go, and then we drove through some small, lonely streets with lots of industrial looking buildings until we found the riverfront street again where the Arch is located. It’s hard to believe how big it is. It is truly massive. The pictures do no justice to its size. www.gatewayarch.com

It had started raining by then and we drove west for more than four hours until we got to Kansas City MO.

Along the way on I-70 we saw signs for a Nostalgia Village. We decided it was a good time to stop to stretch our legs. This place sells lots of cool stuff from the 50s and 60s. It was fun to look. www.nostalgicstuffusa.com

After another hour or so of driving we saw a truck stop and decided to make a quick stop. Once inside, the employee offered us free showers so we decided to stay. We took our showers and did our laundry too. This is the first time we’ve showered at a truck stop and it was really convenient. www.tatravelcenters.com

After another hour of driving we made it to the economy parking lot at the Kansas City International Airport. We parked here for the night because Bernie is catching a plane home tomorrow morning to go visit her family in Florida.

Life is good

2009-06-06T00:00:00.003-04:00

It was pretty hot when we woke up today so we decided to get going pretty quickly. We found the Round Table Literary Park at the Hopkinsville Community College.

We walked around the park where we saw a replica of King Arthur's Round Table, the Muse of Tragedy, a Greco-Roman amphitheatre, the Delphian Tholos Temple, and the Sword in the Stone.

Bernie tried to pull the sword out. She did not succeed but wants everyone to know that she loosened it.

Then we headed west on Highway 68 once again in search of more yard sales. We stopped at a few sales. Mar found brand new ‘Life is Good’ socks for $2 per pair. Their retail price is $7. She was a happy camper.

We drove over some beautiful bridges and drove through the Land Between the Lakes. We finally made it to the end of Highway 68 in Paducah KY.

There we went to a very cute coffee shop, called Etcetera. Mar got the Spanish Latte and Bernie got the drink of the day: ginger tea with lemonade. www.etccoffee.com

We left there and continued on our way west. About an hour later we got to Lambert's Cafe in Sikeston, MO, the home of the ‘throwed’ rolls. www.throwedrolls.com

There were so many people waiting outside for a table that we didn’t think it was possible to get in, at least not without starving to death first.

When we asked how long the wait was, they said at least an hour. Then the hostess handed us a number of someone who had left. The number was called in less than ten minutes and we couldn’t believe our luck. We had fun eating and catching the rolls thrown at us. These rolls are big, hot, and delicious.

Then we drove north for about two hours to Saint Louis MO. Downtown was alive on this Saturday night, there were tons of people everywhere. We drove by The Arch and will go back tomorrow to have a better look in the daytime.

Then we found a casino parking lot to spend the night. The casino is right across the river from The Arch so we can see it in the distance.

National Donut Day

2009-06-05T00:00:00.003-04:00

Last night we parked right next to a small park, where there are ten murals along the floodwall in downtown Maysville KY, that illustrate four centuries of history and represent the four seasons. www.cityofmaysville.com

After admiring the murals we crossed the passage to the Ohio River at Limestone Landing. Here we were able to take in the majestic sight of the river, and we saw up close the bridge we took to get here last night.

Then we headed to Highway 68 for the four hundred mile yard sale. Sixty communities participate in this annual event along scenic byway historic Highway 68, which crosses the state from east to west. And we plan to drive it the whole way.

There were so many yard sales that we had to come up with a system to decide when to stop. We decided we would count and stop at each seventh sale on our side of the road. After a couple small ones, we stopped at a huge one with tons of vendors where we did a lot of walking under a very hot sun. After that, we decided we had enough for one day. www.400mile.com

We went to Lexington KY and found the Krispy Kreme and the Dunkin Donuts. Today is National Donut Day and they were giving away free donuts. We are always up for celebrating any sweet national holiday.

We then kept going west on Highway 68, which seemed to disappear at times or change names. It became the Bluegrass Parkway, the Western Parkway, and the Pennyrile Parkway. Four hours later, we stopped for the night in Hopkinsville, KY in a grocery store parking lot.

Loving Frank

2009-06-04T00:00:00.002-04:00

Our day was filled with driving and not much else today. We drove over five hours, first south on I-79 and then west on I-64 and I-52.

To pass the time Bernie decided to read aloud while Mar drove. We chose a fictional book about Frank Lloyd Wright, called “Loving Frank”. We got through several chapters today and it does make the time go faster.

While we were in West Virginia we kept seeing signs for Biscuit World. We decided it was a must see. We ordered the 5 for $5.95, where you get to mix and match any five of the biscuits they advertise.

We chose two fried apple biscuits, two egg and cheese biscuits, and a potato melt biscuit. These biscuits are huge, bigger than a hamburger bun, and pretty yummy too. www.tudorsbiscuits.com

Then we drove through the southern tip of Ohio and crossed the Simon Kenton Bridge into Kentucky. We’ve never been to Kentucky before. Finally a new state for us, we have not been in a new state since March. We found a hotel in Maysville KY to park for the night.

Cereal choices

2009-06-03T00:00:00.002-04:00

Our first stop today was the Beth Sholom Synagogue in Elkins Park PA. It was designed by Frank Lloyd Wright in 1954. This was the only synagogue he designed and it was the last project he completed before his death.

The building is shaped like a hexagon. FLW chose this shape because when hands are held together in prayer, they form something that looks like a hexagon. Which reminded him that when people worship they should feel welcomed in the hands of God.

Both the outside and the inside are magnificent. Even things like the door handles and light fixtures represent FLW’s attention to detail and his unique design style. www.bethsholomcongregation.org

Then we hit the road … and we drove and we drove and we drove.

We drove west over five hours to Morgantown, WV. Here we went to a cereal bar called Cereality. They have many different cereals to choose from. You can mix and match any cereal you want, and get all kinds of toppings too. It is a bit of a crazy idea but something different and fun, and a good snack too. www.cereality.com

Then we went to a laundromat that is open 24 hours and that turned out to be a good thing, because by the time Mar finished doing the laundry, it was already past midnight. Then we drove a few minutes to a hotel parking lot for the night.

Rock concert

2009-06-02T00:00:00.003-04:00

First thing today, we headed to the post office to pick up the mail that Mar’s daughter had forwarded us. Turns out there are three post offices on Main Avenue and the first two were the wrong ones. So yes, today we visited three post offices!

We also got in the mail a Mothers Day present from Bernie to Mar. A little late but Mar is very excited about her new miBook with recipes from the Food Network. www.mibook.com

Then we drove south and west for an hour and a half to Ringing Rocks Park in Upper Black Eddy, PA. This is a small park where you follow the trail to the end and you will find rocks. Yes, lots and lots of rocks, all of various shapes and colors and sizes. If you come, bring a hammer.

Bernie climbed the roc ks and began tapping them with her hammer. Why? Because these rocks ring. Not all of them, but we found many ringing rocks and it was fun to play a “rock” concert.

Next we drove south about an hour to Elkins Park PA. We stopped at a Chili’s for dinner to use our last gift card. We enjoyed the triple dipper appetizer platter and saved room for dessert, the chocolate chip paradise pie.

This Chili’s is right next door to a Barnes and Noble, so we decided to park here for the night.

Falafels and cupcakes

2009-06-01T00:00:00.003-04:00

We were very happy to find this Walmart parking lot to spend the night, which is right on the bus route to NYC. We walked just a few steps from Bella to the bus stop where we got on the bus for the 20 minute ride into the city. It’s $3.15 per person to ride the bus.

Once in NYC we climbed up and down stairs to the subway station. This was Mar's first time ever on the subway. It’s $2 per person to ride the subway. We went from Times Square to the Staten Island Ferry.

We took the free ferry to Staten Island and then back to Manhattan. They do make you get off once you get there, even if you’re returning right away. The weather was lovely today so we got to see very clearly the magnificent NY skyline and the Statue of Liberty.

Then we got on the subway again and went to Chelsea Market, where the Food Network is located. We kept our eyes wide open but didn’t see any famous people.

We did find a great store with lots of free food samples. Mar finally found a Food Network tshirt at Chelsea Market Baskets. Unfortunately the only sizes they had left were huge but she got one anyway, being the fan that she is. www.chelseamarketbaskets.com

Then we walked to Taim, which is famous for its fabulous falafels and we can definitely see why. This is one tiny restaurant but they were crazy busy! The line went out the door. The place is so busy, that people eat standing outside holding their plates. And these are real dishes, at Taim nothing is disposable. www.facebook.com/pages/New-York-NY/taim/9237960101

Then we walked to Magnolia Bakery. Any ‘Sex and the City’ fan knows that this place was made famous when Carrie and Miranda stuffed themselves with cupcakes here. We felt it was only fitting to do the same. It is a cute store but terribly busy and the cupcakes are only ok, not fabulous. www.magnoliacupcakes.com

By then it was starting to get dark and with full bellies, we took the subway back to Times Square. From there we walked a block to the Port Authority to catch the bus. It took us home and practically to our doorstep and for this we were very grateful, because our feet were so sore we could hardly walk any more.

A day of rest

2009-05-31T00:00:00.001-04:00

Today we decided to stay put to recover from yesterday and also to try to get a few things done. Mar had lots of work to do so she was busy on her laptop most of the day. Bernie got some things we needed at Walmart and tried to figure out the bus schedule to NYC.

As we sat down to dinner the phone rang. Jan and Lenny called to invite us over for dessert. They live in NJ and we stayed in their driveway last fall when we visited NYC.

We had fresh strawberries from their own strawberry plant, home made pound cake, and ice cream. Everything was delicious and we enjoyed seeing them again.

While we were there we filled up our fresh water tank. Thank you, Jan and Lenny!

Then we went back to the Walmart parking lot, which is right on the bus route. Then Bernie changed the oil in Bella while Mar went back to work.

The glass house

2009-05-30T00:00:00.005-04:00

Last fall when we were in the area we tried to go see the Glass House but all the tours for the year were sold out. Now we came back to CT to see it and were very excited that we were able to get tickets this time.

We got up early and went across the street to the Glass House visitor center. From there, they take you up to the Glass House in a small bus, about 10 minutes away. www.philipjohnsonglasshouse.org

The Glass House is actually a 47 acre property with 14 buildings spread about, all designed by Phillip Johnson. The weather was gorgeous and it was a perfect day for an adventure. We were fascinated by the unique and creative designs of all the buildings. It was quite an experience to step into the Glass House. Once inside you don’t really feel that exposed, even though all the walls are glass.

Next we went to see the other FLW house in CT, the Rayward House, which was built in 1955. Unfortunately, you can’t see this one from the road so we were greatly disappointed.

Then we headed south on 95 while debating how to get to New York City to see a few things we missed the last time we were there. We decided to just drive there. First we drove around Central Park and then went to find parking. After going several times around the block, we found a parking spot on 91st Street and paid the meter.

From there we walked south on Fifth Avenue to 72nd Street where we entered Central Park. We went to see Strawberry Fields, the section of the park dedicated to the memory of John Lennon.

The sidewalks were full of people and vendors. The park was full of people picnicking, running, walking, riding their bikes, and all kinds of musicians and performers. There were people everywhere. We even saw two different wedding parties at opposite ends of the park. Men in tuxedos and women in evening gowns and brides in white dresses carrying flower bouquets, walking in the park.

We walked north again through the park up to 89th Street and there we went to the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum. On Saturday evenings admission to the museum is "pay what you wish". We entered and went all the way to the top in the elevator and then walked down the rotundas while admiring the FLW exhibition in celebration of the Guggenheim's 50th anniversary. www.guggenheim.org

After that we were tired and our feet hurt. We dragged ourselves back to Bella and as we were leaving the city, we drove by one of the Papaya stores and decided to get a couple of hot dogs to go. Mar really liked their hot dogs the last time we were here. Then we crossed over the Lincoln Tunnel and went to the Walmart in Secaucus NJ to park for the night.

Searching for FLW

2009-05-29T00:00:00.003-04:00

After returning the movie to RedBox and buying a few groceries at the Shop and Stop, we headed out to see the next FLW house.

We drove about 15 minutes to the Wilson House in Millstone NJ. The owners have received an award for their recently completed renovations. The house was built in 1954 with concrete blocks and mahogany trim. It has a second story and this is rare in an Usonian house.

Then we drove about half an hour north to go see the Christie House in Bernardsville NJ. Built in 1940 it is the largest FLW house in NJ and is made of brick, cypress, and redwood.

Next we drove north about 40 minutes to go see the Richardson House in Glen Ridge NJ. Built in 1941, the house is made of brick and cypress and has 15 glass doors framing the living room. It sits at the end of a suburban cul-de-sac right in between regular suburban houses.

Then we drove northeast for an hour and a half to go see the Sander House in Stamford CT. It was built in 1952 into the side of rocky land. By then it was night time so we got to see the house lightly glowing in the night with its lights on.

Then we drove about 10 more minutes to New Canaan CT and parked for the night in the train station right across the street from the Glass House visitor center.

Heading north

2009-05-28T00:00:00.003-04:00

We are now looking for a book about the buildings designed by Frank Lloyd Wright. When we got up today we went straight into the used bookstore and though this was a well stocked bookstore the bookwas not there.

We headed out and went to see the only FLW house in Delaware, which was about 15 minutes from the bookstore. Built of stone, the Dudley Spencer House in Wilmington DE, is truly a work of art. With peaceful Zen inspired gardens the house blends in beautifully with the surrounding landscape.

Then we drove north less than an hour to Cherry Hill NJ to see the Sweeton House. When we got there we sat in Bella admiring the house from a distance when the owner, who was mowing the lawn, surprised us by coming over to invite us to take a look around.

Dan is an architect who recently bought the house and made his dream of living in a FLW home finally true. He shared with us the history of the house and invited us in. He and his wife are restoring the house, which had been left empty for at least ten years.

Next we drove north about an hour to Millstone NJ and parked for the night at Stop & Shop where we got a movie from RedBox. The Curious Case of Benjamin Button was a pretty good movie and we both enjoyed it.

Back to the mainland

2009-05-27T00:00:00.003-04:00

Today Bernie got up early to finish everything on her list. She replaced a pressure valve and drain in the hot water heater, installed a washer, fixed the floor boards in the attic, secured a guard rail, fitted and installed a hand rail, cleaned up the backyard, and put things away.

We finally finished packing just as the truck came to take our things to the boat. It was a long, crazy day but somehow we got it all done.

We got on the 4 pm ferry. The boat pulled away as we waved goodbye to the island and our friends. We were a bit sad to be leaving.

Today the weather was lovely, the sun was out, and we had a nice boat ride back to the mainland. We were extremely happy to be back in our Bella. We left most of the unpacking for later as we couldn't wait to get on the road.

We drove north about three hours to Wilmington DE. After missing our turn just before Wilmington, our GPS recalculated the route. As we got closer again, we saw a used bookstore and since it was getting late and we were extremely tired, we parked there for the night.

Last dinner

2009-05-26T00:00:00.004-04:00

As sad as it is, all good things must come to an end.

Tonight was our last night on the island. We decided to share one more dinner with our new friends, Aram and Miriam. We had a pot luck.

We brought our beans and rice, onion rolls, and brownies to share with them. They made a fresh veggie stir fry and mashed potatoes to share with us. They also supplied us with one more round of mojtos tonight.

It was a fun and wonderful night, with some mixed feelings thrown in. Aram and Miriam are getting ready to leave the island on Friday and we are leaving tomorrow.

As we rode our bikes from their house we took in the sights of the night island one last time.

Party with friends

2009-05-23T00:00:00.004-04:00

The day was bright and hot today, the sun was out and so amazing. The tourists were everywhere here on the island today. It was quite interesting to hear their comments about the island and what they saw.

Today Bernie worked on some more projects on her list. She installed in the hall a light fixture, and hung a mirror and a coat rack.

It might have been the heat but Bernie decided to shave her head again. Mar was right in the middle of working on her online classes so Bernie decided to do it herself this time. Mar only had to help with the back a little.

Then we got ready to go to a party.

Miriam and Aram are moving off the island and some friends of theirs were having a going away party for them tonight. And we were invited :-)

The party started at 7 pm and we were wined and dined all night. There were tons of food, all vegan and all delicious. We ate too much! It was a fun evening with lots of laughs and great company.

At the end of the evening, we rode our bikes home.

Dinner with friends

2009-05-22T00:00:00.003-04:00

After a long workday we went to the house of Aram and Miriam for dinner. We wanted this to be our treat so we had planned to cook for them.

Mar made black bean hummus for an appetizer, spoon bread for a side dish, and layered cookie bars for dessert.

Bernie made mojitos and after everyone had one in their hand, she made a delicious vegan dinner because Aram and Miriam are vegan. Bernie made tofu parmesan with garlic spaghetti.

When we first got there we met the neighbors, Diane and Bob, who are island "weekenders" and had just arrived on the boat. Then Little Terry showed up a bit later. We can confirm that there is never a dull moment on Smith Island.

After a wonderful evening we headed home on our bikes. The more we get to know Aram and Miriam, the more we like them. We had fun with them tonight.

Artist retreat

2009-05-21T00:00:00.006-04:00

Being on the island is a unique experience every day. It’s not just the fact that we are someplace new to us but it is truly different than the mainland. It almost feels like we are in another country.

Life seems so simple here on the island. There are only three communities. We are in Ewell, which has a population of about 200, and everyone seems to know everyone else. It is almost like living in a different time and age.

As Bernie works on the house she has found some interesting challenges and unique characteristics of this house, which was built in 1901. The house has been remodeled several times and this makes it interesting to see what's around the next corner.

Because the house dates back to when people had outhouses, originally this house had no bathrooms. Now it has one and a half bathrooms. There is a full bathroom on the first floor where a long hallway used to be, and part of it is under the staircase. In the half bathroom upstairs there is an old glass door as a wall between the staircase and the bathroom so natural light still shines through.

This house will be an artist retreat so Bernie must think outside the box when figuring out how to do regular things like hanging doors and medicine cabinets.

The house has plenty of unique touches. There is plexi glass and a window as a shower wall. The fireplaces have been plastered over. The lathe has been left bare to show all the different textures of the walls and ceilings.

The house is interesting, the weather is perfect, the people are friendly, and we are glad and grateful to be here.

Island time

2009-05-20T00:00:00.003-04:00

We were so tired when we went to bed last night that we got up a little later than usual (yes, even for us). While we were having our coffee, Bernie looked at the list that Miriam and Aram gave her with the things they need done in the house.

When we were done, we rode our bikes to their house so that Bernie could get some materials and ask them some questions.

On the way back, we did a little exploring, found a store, and rode our bikes to the water's edge. We met the next door neighbor who was kind enough to give us her password so we can use her wi-fi.

Back at the house, Bernie got started on some of the smaller projects on the list, while Mar cleaned up the kitchen and started unpacking.

We worked the rest of the evening, stopped to have a sandwich for dinner, and went back to work until bedtime.

To the island

2009-05-19T00:00:00.003-04:00

After our first cup of coffee we started packing. We packed for hours. We packed all the groceries we bought yesterday. We packed everything we could think that we could possibly need for a week on a small island.

When everything was packed, we unloaded it all, plus our two bikes, onto the dock. Then Captain Terry told us where to go to park Bella. We drove around the block and parked. We opened the Damp Rid, closed all the windows, locked the doors, and paid the parking fee of $3 a night.

Once on the boat with all our belongings, we headed to Smith Island MD. The ride took 45 minutes and it was a bit chilly, so we sat inside most of the time.

As we approached the island we saw two people waving at us. Miriam and Aram had come to meet us and take us to their place. It was so close that we just rode our bikes there.

Miriam and Aram have bought a second house on the island to turn into an artist retreat. This is where we'll be staying and this is where Bernie will be working. The house was built in 1901 and there are tons of things for Bernie to fix and do here.

Once our stuff was in the house, we went with Miriam and Aram to their house. Aram took care of the happy hour drinks and Miriam cooked a wonderful dinner.

Lucky for us, they had some Smith Island Cake, which is the official state dessert and we got to try it. We liked it so much, they will be ordering us a cake to take with us.

After a great evening spent with our new friends, laughing and telling stories, we headed back to the house. We were totally exhausted by then, so after a quick shower we hit the sack and left the unpacking for tomorrow.

South and southeast

2009-05-18T00:00:00.006-04:00

Today after running a couple of errands, we picked up our mail from general delivery at the post office, and then left Manassas VA.

We headed north towards Towson MD. As we were approaching Washington DC, Mar missed our exit (again) and we got a quick sight seeing tour of our capital. As we drove by we saw from a distance several of the monuments we visited last fall. It was a nice detour, except for the traffic.

In Towson we went to a sushi place we've heard about but it was closed when we got there, because they are closed on Mondays.

Our friend Kristin, who was meeting us for dinner, came by to pick us up and took us to Sushi Hana. We shared several rolls and all were delicious, this was really good sushi. We were glad to find a good sushi place because we haven't had sushi in a year, since we left Orlando. www.sushihanatowson.com

We said goodbye to Kristin and then drove southeast towards Delmarva. After a tunnel, a bridge, a couple of $2 tolls, and about an hour and a half later we stopped at a Walmart in Delaware to buy groceries.

After that we drove south another hour to Crisfield MD where we parked at the dock at the end of 413 where we plan to take the ferry tomorrow afternoon. It was already 3 am by the time we got here. We were both so exhausted we couldn't see straight. Good night!

Rainy Sunday

2009-05-17T00:00:00.004-04:00

After a week of work, we are getting ready to leave today. Packing, cleaning, organizing, unhooking, unplugging, and getting everything back in its place.

This past week Bernie has replaced light fixtures, put down flooring, changed out outlets, painted, and done tons of other things, to get the house ready forsale.

Mar has done the laundry, started preparing the online classes she will teach this summer, and watched the Food Network to her heart's content.

The day has been dark and cloudy but at least it stopped raining long enough for us to get ready to go. We went to Staples to spend the night and get wi-fi. We just have to pick up our mail at the post office here in Manassas VA tomorrow, and then we'll be on the road again.

Happy Mothers Day

2009-05-10T00:00:00.002-04:00

We were happy to find out, quite by accident, that the recital of the Luray Singing Tower was today. We just happened to be here when it started chiming its lovely 45 minute recital. The 177 feet tall tower was built in 1937 and it has a carillon of 47 bells. The largest bell weighs 7,640 pounds and the smallest weighs 12 pounds. www.luraycaverns.com

Then we walked over to the Luray Garden Maze. The maze takes about thirty minutes to do and it is $6 per person. As you giggle your way through you bump into dead ends with funny signs. Along the way there are other signs that trick you by telling you which way to go, and it always turns out to be the wrong way.

There is a mission for you to complete. There are the four stations you must find and each one has a stamp you stamp on your ticket. If you get all four you get a dollar discount in their gift shop. We didn’t use the discount but it was fun to find the four stations.

The maze is large and very well done, with flowering plants and plenty of greenery. Along the way there are benches, a large fountain, a cave, and a look out deck. This was a lot of fun. www.thegardenmaze.com

After Luray we drove east about an hour to Warrenton VA for Mothers Day dinner at Mojitos and Tapas. These are two of Mar's favorite things so it was the perfect place to celebrate motherhood. According to their website Mojitos and Tapas is the only true authentic Cuban-Spanish restaurant in the whole state of Virginia.

We were happy to find it because the mojito and the food were absolutely delicious. The beef empanada and the tostones rellenos were wonderful. Here you can design your own bruschetta by selecting three ingredients. We wanted the manchego cheese but they were out.

We had the mojo bruschetta with feta cheese and avocado and lechon. The bruschetta was excellent. In fact the lechon was so good, we got a pound to go. For dessert we had the tres leches cake with café con leche. By then we were so stuffed we felt like we needed a wheelbarrow to carry us out. www.mojitosandtapas.com

Then we headed to Bernie's next job. We drove east another 45 minutes to the house of Yvonne and Grace in Manassas VA. We met with them and Bernie was able to talk to them about the work they want done. They are selling the house so it needs the usual fixing up before going on the market.

Books and books

2009-05-09T00:00:00.001-04:00

When we got up today we were ready to hit the books. We walked into the Green Valley Book Fair, a 25,000 square foot warehouse with over five hundred thousand new books.

Today was the first day of the book fair. They open for two weeks at a time and close down for a month in between. Most paperbacks are only $3 and most hardbounds are only $5.

We were in there for several hours and when we were done, our feet hurt and we were thirsty and tired. But we had a few new books. www.gvbookfair.com

Then we hit the road and drove north about 45 minutes to Luray VA. First we stopped at Walmart to pick up some groceries and then found the Luray Caverns, where we parked for the night. Dinner was hot dogs cooked on the engine on the way here.

Good chips

2009-05-08T00:00:00.003-04:00

The sun was shining brightly in the sky when we got up today. In fact it was so sunny it was actually too hot! We were in downtown Front Royal VA. We took a quick look around the visitor center and then hit the road.

We drove south about 40 minutes to the Route 11 potato chip factory. It is a small business where they make 10 different flavors of potato chips. You can get free samples of as many as you want to try and they are pretty good. We got to watch how they make and bag their potato chips. It was fun and we left with a big bag of their lightly salted chips. www.rt11.com

Then we drove south another 30 minutes to the visitor center in Harrisonburg VA and then south another 10 minutes to Mount Crawford VA. There we found the Green Valley Book Fair and parked in their parking lot for the night. It is once again raining tonight. The book fair starts tomorrow. www.gvbookfair.com

Some sun

2009-05-07T00:00:00.001-04:00

We woke up extra early hoping to be able to leave Waynesboro VA today. But it was still raining. We sat down to have our coffee and not long after that, the rain stopped and the sun came out. We hit the road.

At the entrance to the Shenandoah National Park we paid our $15 entry fee and entered the Skyline Drive. Here we were amazed at the landscape and the mountains. This is a more dramatic drive than the Blue Ridge Parkway. We stopped at several of the lookouts and while driving were lucky to have several encounters with deer, beavers, and a few pheasants.

The sun was shinning bright for the first part of the drive. By the time we got to Skyland, the highest point at 3680 ft, it had started to rain again and there was some fog too. Thankfully, it didn’t last long and we were able to finish driving the Skyline Drive today. We really wanted to finish it before any more bad weather hit again.

After exiting the Skyline at the north end, we went to Front Royal VA. We went to the visitor center, which was closed, so we drove around a bit while checking out the town. We needed to stretch our legs so we walked around a shopping center where we went to get some groceries.

Then we went back to the visitor center to park for the night. There was a laundromat right across the street, so we got to do our laundry tonight.

Cabin fever

2009-05-06T00:00:00.006-04:00

We are starting to think maybe Noah is around here somewhere building his ark.

It was raining again today which means we are pretty much stuck in the RV most of the time. Bernie is going stir crazy and really wishes she could get to her next job already. Maybe we need an ark too.

Bernie went in and walked around the Walton’s Museum today. She was very excited to see it because she was a big fan while growing up. www.waltonmuseum.org

Then we headed back to the Books A Million shopping center. There are several stores there and Bernie walked around for a while to shake off the cabin fever.

For a change of scene, we went to spend the night in a small farmers market near downtown and we can only hope the weather will be better tomorrow.

More rain

2009-05-05T00:00:00.002-04:00

It was not raining when we woke up today so we thought we might be able to get on the Skyline Drive. There was no sun, it was quite cloudy, and so we went back to the visitor center to check.

When we got there we were happy to see they were open today and the friendliest lady was there to help. She said today was not a good day for the Skyline because the weather was like “pea soup”. Then she gave us several suggestions of things to do in the area.

We couldn’t decide what to do. It’s so difficult when the weather interferes with your plans. We picked one of the suggestions and drove southeast for about 45 minutes to Schuyler, VA. We found the Walton Museum and parked for the night.

We were pleasantly surprised to find free wi-fi here so we watched some tv on our laptop while listening to the rain. Yes, it is raining again.

More fog

2009-05-04T00:00:00.001-04:00

It was raining when we woke up today. We went to the Rockfish Gap Tourist Information Center at the entrance to the Skyline Drive. The fog was already heavy by the time we got there and the visitor center was closed, probably because of the weather.

We went back into town and tried the Waynesboro Office of Tourism in downtown Waynesboro VA. The person responsible for tourism is out of the country but we were lucky that Rick (who works in another department) was in. He was very helpful with information about the weather and tips about the town and the Skyline.

He recommended a local bookstore with wi-fi and called ahead to let them know we were coming. We headed to Stone Soup Books, just a few blocks away, where we were met with smiling faces and a friendly welcome.

The bookstore is located in an older two story home that has been nicely redone. They only use natural ingredients in their kitchen. www.stonesoupbooks.net

We were happy to try the black bean and corn wrap and we got the last of the vegetarian chili. Both were good and filling. We stayed until they closed at 6 pm.

It was still raining and with no other plans, we headed back to Books A Million. We went inside and spent the rest of the evening scanning magazines and browsing books.

When they closed, we went back to Bella to spend the night in their parking lot. We found that if we park around the side of the building, we can get free wi-fi.

Thick dense fog

2009-05-03T00:00:00.002-04:00

It was raining when we woke up today so we couldn’t walk around downtown like we had planned. Instead we decided to do some drive by tourism. We saw huge old fashioned advertising painted on the side of a brick building, and an old bank, solid and majestic.

Then we stopped at a small fountain where the water comes out of a dog’s mouth. Legend says that whomever drinks from this fountain will return to Roanoke or never leave. Bernie decided to get a drink.

Downtown was almost empty and the market place was dead. Either everything here is closed on Sundays or the rain kept people away.

We got on the Parkway again and a little while later we hit very dense fog. We could not see even ten feet ahead. We drove very slowly hoping it would lift. However our hopes were dashed and we left the Parkway when we could.

From there we went to see Foamhenge in Natural Bridge VA. Foamhenge is free and pretty cool. It is a full size replica of Stonehenge in England, but done in big foam boulders. It was raining and we didn't get to go explore but we were glad we got to see it. http://www.naturalbridgeva.com

Then we continued to a Walmart in Lexington VA to get milk and water. Next we found the Books A Million in Waynesboro VA so we could use their wi-fi because Mar needs to turn grades in for her classes.

However, this store is brand new and they don’t have wi-fi yet. They told us the hotel next door has wi-fi so we went there to spend the night in their parking lot.

We still have eggs from the chicken farm so Bernie made pancakes with eggs Benedict for dinner. This was Bernie’s first time making Hollandaise sauce and it was delicious. We love having breakfast for dinner.

Mayberry

2009-05-02T00:00:00.003-04:00

We hurried up this morning to get ready to go. We had to make it to Snappy Lunch before they closed. On Saturdays they close at 1:15 pm and they’re not open on Sundays.

As we approached the restaurant we noticed there were people standing outside, there was a long line of people waiting for a table. Bernie jumped out and got in line, we were not going to miss this twice.

This place is famous for their pork chop sandwiches. They fry up the pork chops right next to the register. Bernie got our sandwich to go. People were still waiting in line. www.thesnappylunch.com

From there we went to the Andy Griffith Playhouse and saw some of his collection on display there and the old fashioned police cars giving tours to the tourists. www.visitmayberry.com

Then we got back on the Blue Ridge Parkway. We stopped at Mabry Mill, the most photographed spot on the Parkway. Built in 1910 it was a blacksmith shop, a sawmill, a grist mill, and a woodworking shop. The buildings and displays give you a glimpse of pioneer life. Now there is a restaurant and gift shop. www. blueridgeresort.com

We got off the parkway at milepost 120 and went into Roanoke VA. The visitor center was already closed when we got there. Bernie spotted a catholic church and decided to go to mass, she was right on time. The church was magnificent, the interior was small but gorgeous.

Then we drove a bit around downtown and then found a public parking lot that is free on the weekends. We decided to park in a corner under a beautiful oak tree and spend the night.

Wrong detour

2009-05-01T00:00:00.002-04:00

We got up extra early today because we wanted to make it to the Snappy Lunch in Mount Airy NC before they closed at 1:45 pm.

To make good time we even had our coffee on the go. We entered the Parkway only to find a sign that indicated another road closure. We figured we would just follow the detour signs like we did yesterday because the signs had been very helpful.

When we got to the blockade we saw the sign that said detour. There were no arrows so we took a right turn off the Parkway, the only way we could turn. This took us to a lonely, narrow, unpaved, hilly, curvy road.

Driving at 10 miles an hour we finally got to the first intersection and decided to listen to our GPS who kept telling us to do a u-turn and turn back. We had not seen any other signs after that first one.

We drove all the way back, now mostly uphill, on this curvy road and got back to the Parkway. We don’t know how we got so lost but we agreed that from now on we should have our coffee before we drive. What a difference caffeine makes!

This "detour" made us late so we didn’t’ make it to Mount Airy before the Snappy Lunch closed. This made us a little unhappy.

We went to the visitor center and asked for directions to a laundromat. We did four big loads of laundry and chatted with the friendly locals.

Then we headed to the Walmart less than two miles away. On the way there we saw a Staples and decided to stop to try out their wi-fi. It was working so we parked here for the night.

Blowing Rock

2009-04-30T00:00:00.001-04:00

It was cloudy and quite chilly today so the day started with a debate: to slide or not to slide down the waterfall rocks at Sliding Rock Park. Mar couldn’t bear the thought of being terribly cold the rest of the day with wet hair, so she chickened out.

But Bernie suited up and we headed out with a towel in one hand and camera in the other. Then off she went sliding down the rocks. It happened so fast Mar could hardly get any pictures.

Bernie popped out of the water faster than you can imagine. The water was way too cold, it literally took her breath away. She wished she could go again but the freezing water kept that thought out of her mind.

We left Sliding Rock with fond memories and got back on the Parkway. We went to the Blue Ridge Parkway Destination Center at milepost 384. This is a large visitor center with a theater, gift shop, and lots of displays about the Parkway. The park ranger there told us about the road closures on the Parkway and mapped out a detour route for us.

At milepost 291 we left the Parkway and went to the town of Blowing Rock. The town is small and it took us a while to decide where to park. We found the downtown public parking lot and found a good spot in the corner.

After dinner Bernie decided to go for a walk. This town has free wi-fi so tonight we were able to watch tv on our laptop. A wonderful ending to a wonderful day.

Sliding Rock

2009-04-29T00:00:00.004-04:00

Cherokee is pretty crowded, the streets are lined with store after store selling all kinds of Native American crafts and art. There are people dressed in traditional Native American wear dancing on the sidewalks. We saw a large statue of the chief who created the Native American alphabet.

We went into the ticket center to find out where the visitor center was and found out it was just two doors down. We went to the visitor center to get maps and information about the Blue Ridge Parkway.

We got gas for $2.07 before getting on the Parkway, which seems exorbitantly high to us.

Then we got on the Blue Ridge Parkway at the southern entrance. We stopped at the highest point on the Parkway (6047 ft) and some of the other lookouts. The views are incredible and the drive is quite challenging.

At milepost 408 we left the parkway and went to Pisgah National Park. We found Sliding Rock Park where we parked for the night.

We took a walk around the park to check it out. The place is beautiful and the water was very, very cold.

We went back to Bella where Bernie made a fire and we had hot dogs on the grill for dinner. Then Bernie decided to take a bath in the river, even though it was cold, and afterwards she painted for a while.

There is no phone or internet access here and Mar is very happy to be able to catch up on her reading.

The weather is very nice tonight and we can hear the rushing sounds of the river next to us.

Two forests

2009-04-28T00:00:00.004-04:00

We drove east about an hour to Murphy NC to see Fields of the Wood. The largest ten commandments are there. It is quite an interesting place. There are 22 life sized displays of things related to the bible. Bernie got to push the stone from Jesus’ tomb and be ‘almost’ baptized, again. www.fieldsofthewoodbiblepark.com

To get there we drove through the Cherokee National Forest. We had huge mountains on one side and the river on the other for the whole drive.

Then we drove about an hour and a half to Cherokee NC. To get there we drove through the Nantahala National Forest. We drove up and down mountains and around curves where sometimes we were peering right over the side of the mountain with no guardrail.

On the way we stopped at a grocery store to pick up milk. We also stopped at a couple of visitor centers along the way, to stretch our legs and pick up some maps and brochures.

By the time we got to Cherokee it was already dark and we had difficulty finding the visitor center. Someone directed us there and we found a spot to park for the night in the parking lot between the visitor center and the ticket center, right across from the museum. We were right next to the river and listened to it as we fell asleep.

Why are they honking?

2009-04-27T00:00:00.003-04:00

We were awakened early this morning by a forest ranger banging on our hood and yelling that we couldn’t camp here. He proceeded to collect the trash and then left. We were taken aback by how abrupt he was and quite miffed at his rude behavior. We tried to go back to sleep but it was hard.

Later we went down to the base of the mountain to see the Little River Falls, the 45 foot waterfall that gives the park its name. There is hiking and swimming there. The water was beautiful and crystal clear, but way too cold to get in. www.nps.gov/liri

We then drove back to Scottsboro AL for Mar's mail, which did arrive today. Then we drove northeast about an hour and a half to Chattanooga TN.

On the way there we crossed into GA for a little bit and were lucky to find gas for $1.78.

In Chattanooga we went to see a house by Frank Lloyd Wright, which is not open to the public so we were just going to drive by to take a look from the street.

The drive there proved to be quite an adventure. First we went through a tunnel that was barely big enough for just us. We have no idea why but all the cars behind us were honking their horns like crazy.

Then we went up hills that seemed almost straight up. The house sits at the top, looking over a mountain. The owners are out of town - according to a neighbor - so we did some exploring and were able to view most of the house. This house is another impressive masterpiece in a stunning location with a spectacular view of the city below.

Then we drove 45 minutes to the Books-A-Million in Cleveland TN to use their free wi-fi with our store card and to spend the night. We were hungry by then. We had warmed up our dinner on the engine block on our way here so it was ready for us. We really like this system.

Chicken dinner

2009-04-26T00:00:00.002-04:00

It was so dark when we parked here last night at one of the Little River Canyon National Preserve’s lookouts, that we had no idea what the view looked like. When we woke up today we were awe struck by the amazing beauty of the place.

We opened all the windows and the door to have a full view. There are two picnic tables here and this seems to be a popular spot. We listened as people approached the overlook and gasped in amazement at the breathtaking views of the river 100 feet below. We fully understood when we heard each ahh and ooh.

Around lunchtime we heard some people setting up for a picnic close to Bella. We saw a young man, two older ladies, and an older gentleman. They sat at the picnic table with bottles of Coke and a bucket of KFC.

At one point Bernie could tell they were talking about Bella and overheard one of them wonder if we had a bathroom. Bernie answered from our window, that yes, we have a bathroom but we don’t have fried chicken. Everyone laughed. A little later there was a knock at our door. They offered us the rest of their fried chicken along with biscuits and mashed potatoes. We were so surprised!

Turns out they were siblings who had grown up on a farm just across the street. Nell, Elizabeth, and Fred are all in their 80s and had some fun stories to share. Fred's son, Tim, came with them from Birmingham AL. They were really nice and we were grateful for the chicken dinner.

Later in the afternoon when it wasn’t as hot, we went for a walk and then sat outside enjoying the view and the fresh air until dinnertime. The KFC was so tasty. Our phones and internet don’t work here on the mountain, so tonight we were able to catch up on our reading some more.

You got (no) mail

2009-04-25T00:00:00.002-04:00

We went back to the Unclaimed Baggage Center to take a look at the rest of the store. We spent a couple of hours wading through the sea of clothes and got several tshirts for 99 cents each. We like to cut the sleeves off for those hot and humid summer days.

Mar’s mail didn’t get here today so now we have to wait till the post office opens again on Monday. We decided to go with the flow and take the weekend to "camp" at one of the local parks.

After some research we chose Little River Canyon National Preserve. We drove about 45 minutes to the park headquarters in Fort Payne, where the website said to go to get maps and info about the park. We needed the map to locate the three free campsites.

When we got there they were already closed and there were no maps outside the building. We headed towards the park and drove up a mountain, getting lost a bit. Finally after crossing over a bridge we got to the park’s parking lot. There were no maps in the map holder here either, the box was empty.

We decided to try to follow the signs and we took the scenic drive into the park. Suddenly it got dark before we realized it and the road was pitch black. We drove up and down hills and around curves, until we found a lookout spot where we could spend the night.

We were hungry by then and had eggs and biscuits for dinner. These are the delicious, organic eggs we brought with us from the chicken farm. After dinner we got to catch up on our reading while listening to the silence all around us. The only sound was the rush of the river below us. It was so peaceful and relaxing, so quiet and so dark … and so hot … it was a sweltering hot night.