tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14226138824947839872024-02-07T17:04:35.268-08:00VannaGoneMy adventures with a VW Vanagon Westfaliamark chttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07918301844711569207noreply@blogger.comBlogger78125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1422613882494783987.post-51931436740108213882016-08-15T12:38:00.001-07:002016-08-15T12:39:19.127-07:00Hyder<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWrJSJJTw2sfC6P0-DOeu54ZqxC0ehz1nU2tRacaEKpyV3NXGLQfhKypqN4U3SruXLlZlQFM276vuphNNgQjzHx7NTJaBKYuNXr5_9WaE0B1qp83mzCcGewBzGpDSc22-aKA8yJzCfjwvv/s1600/20160814_081436.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"> <img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWrJSJJTw2sfC6P0-DOeu54ZqxC0ehz1nU2tRacaEKpyV3NXGLQfhKypqN4U3SruXLlZlQFM276vuphNNgQjzHx7NTJaBKYuNXr5_9WaE0B1qp83mzCcGewBzGpDSc22-aKA8yJzCfjwvv/s640/20160814_081436.jpg"> </a> </div>mark chttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07918301844711569207noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1422613882494783987.post-59234988801776580172016-08-13T11:13:00.001-07:002016-08-13T11:33:00.082-07:00Quesnel<p dir="ltr">We left home at 6:30. First stop? Discovery Park for one last rabbit chase for the girls. Then on to BC.<br>
The drive was uneventful. We followed the Fraser River valley for most of the day. Quite pretty, sort of a mini version of the Columbia River gorge. We saw only 1 air cooled vw bus and 1 vanagon westfalia all day. We passed them both! <br>
We camped at Ten Mile Lake provincial park, just north of Quesnal, 540 miles from Seattle. The girls waded in the lake at the campground while John swam. The water was surprisingly warm. <br>We had no issues at all with Vanessa, which was a great relief. Even the AC worked! So far we haven't had to break into the box of spare parts. (Thank you Eion!)<br>
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Thanks to the amazing automotive skills of Eion, Vanessa is ready to hit the road again. She now has a second brand new Subaru engine, and at no expense to me. The threads on one of the bolts holding the head to the block were stripped so she had developed a leak around the head gasket. Eion found it and replaced the entire engine under warranty. He also found a leak in the gas tank, and that was replaced as well. What an honest gentleman! So she is as good as new.<br>
Our plan is to drive her down the Washington, Oregon, California coast at the end of May. Then we will drive her to Alaska in September. But first I have to drive her around town to break in the new engine. It's good to have her home. <br>
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Thanks to Kristin and Eion for all they have done for us. They are the absolute best.</div>
mark chttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07918301844711569207noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1422613882494783987.post-66509074904569715712015-01-14T06:26:00.001-08:002015-01-14T06:36:03.459-08:00And the winner is...<p dir="ltr">After a month in Virginia, Vanessa was finally shipped back to Seattle to complete her makeover. So I tallied the total cost of work done to her and I can now announce the winner of the contest.</p>
<p dir="ltr">The winner is Cecilia Nallas, who guessed $40,000. (She had the highest guess). So now a dashboard hula doll is on its way to her. </p><p dir="ltr">Congrats, Cecilia! </p><p dir="ltr">p.s. that's not her real hair. She's just a fun girl! </p>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhj-MfjT-XvJxal0MFrXqXEOj-bPcm6aXokXYvrjtHzm4Fsf2wbFcG5Vjq8qnjMA_hiebuzYOXZWaEPfyvruqMhkY-lFuKZ8GQOQzRBSrluzO57VGCWF-j5CE9Z6EnOzHJuSjHZqzEfKKXb/s1600/20130712_194111.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"> <img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhj-MfjT-XvJxal0MFrXqXEOj-bPcm6aXokXYvrjtHzm4Fsf2wbFcG5Vjq8qnjMA_hiebuzYOXZWaEPfyvruqMhkY-lFuKZ8GQOQzRBSrluzO57VGCWF-j5CE9Z6EnOzHJuSjHZqzEfKKXb/s640/20130712_194111.jpg"> </a> </div>mark chttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07918301844711569207noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1422613882494783987.post-50785919560504172152014-11-28T09:21:00.001-08:002014-11-28T14:26:40.210-08:00Throwing in the towelLast blog entry. First the thermostat failed, and then the starter failed at the dealer while they were installing the thermostat! We are shipping the van back to Seattle and renting a car to finish the trip. Maybe we should rent something reliable. Perhaps a Kia?<br><div><br></div>mark chttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07918301844711569207noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1422613882494783987.post-48521378140086156312014-11-26T12:18:00.003-08:002014-11-27T08:09:14.789-08:00Almost Heaven (?)<p dir="ltr">5:30 wake up so we could say good bye to my sister before she left for work, and we were in the road at 6:30 just before sunrise. We drove east on famous Paris Pike thru beautiful horse farm country just as the sun came up. The town of Paris, Kentucky is as cute as it can be. Here is the Bourbon County Courthouse in Paris:</p><p dir="ltr"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYhzkDTyHh_9o3pua_7n9NEq1KAULJqovq0gVfsyUY9a-f9Oq09Is8RK3StiQnbJ_bwAMTldr64BS5JTj1hlIYXd64hrRqcz8aH7ntp9oE1V4E0VbedB3hxpXA9LaDEuSi4dFdKtazNpPp/s640/blogger-image--1367231781.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYhzkDTyHh_9o3pua_7n9NEq1KAULJqovq0gVfsyUY9a-f9Oq09Is8RK3StiQnbJ_bwAMTldr64BS5JTj1hlIYXd64hrRqcz8aH7ntp9oE1V4E0VbedB3hxpXA9LaDEuSi4dFdKtazNpPp/s640/blogger-image--1367231781.jpg"></a></div><p></p>
<p dir="ltr">Then on to West Virginia. If John Denver is right and West Virginia is "almost heaven" then I fear there will be a lot of people who will be sorely disappointed when they show up at the pearly gates and heaven looks an awful lot like a run-down trailer park.<br>
The western part of West Virginia on US 60 was as impoverished an area as we've seen. <br>
After a quick stop for lunch we noticed Vanessa is still incontinent, although less so. We figured we were now carrying a big bottle of extra coolant in the van so we would just top her off periodically. Fingers crossed again. </p>
<p dir="ltr">On to Lewisburg, W.Va., by far the nicest town we have seen in this state.</p><p dir="ltr"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8seSbfZAR2KKXUwoaQk_cgW8wlWiPBC_iX7U54orN_nMJHYgEorTxBXmKoLdyUIGND6_IpcKdoNRMHy9EZ4xVPGO3642ana1wGHlFK2MPOBXwrmLo2RLvmowigi9YQTQHk4U83LnbLSpp/s640/blogger-image-2087463232.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8seSbfZAR2KKXUwoaQk_cgW8wlWiPBC_iX7U54orN_nMJHYgEorTxBXmKoLdyUIGND6_IpcKdoNRMHy9EZ4xVPGO3642ana1wGHlFK2MPOBXwrmLo2RLvmowigi9YQTQHk4U83LnbLSpp/s640/blogger-image-2087463232.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWUCgK67WmkaVz0Qvq7Mpsq-Z560pSN9WhsGvXMXdb0MkOgBlKTzkv8PJvOoazgluaJx8HXS0zM8hw_XCqXJ684X28WYJEE7ac6DZ_eG8hW-on-N9cMXiJdpYF14Ut7cvFoZ6yCvm7wcI7/s640/blogger-image-449321836.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWUCgK67WmkaVz0Qvq7Mpsq-Z560pSN9WhsGvXMXdb0MkOgBlKTzkv8PJvOoazgluaJx8HXS0zM8hw_XCqXJ684X28WYJEE7ac6DZ_eG8hW-on-N9cMXiJdpYF14Ut7cvFoZ6yCvm7wcI7/s640/blogger-image-449321836.jpg"></a></div></div><p></p>
<p dir="ltr">From there we drove to White Sulphur Springs and The Greenbrier Resort. Absolutely first class.</p><p dir="ltr"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSxyRSjeIyEOj42MLYq1fz35Cqy3qJ3jKDt_zXg0oBhbtatdmL1U9PGdA399Jhn0ykttJ0JPA9iOmDsQPNf1nBZFc929vFkQB3DrqPUTUGQh1hUJ2sa_zRJ0AnQqvGp3SjCVmJxu1o9dmP/s640/blogger-image-1802175024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSxyRSjeIyEOj42MLYq1fz35Cqy3qJ3jKDt_zXg0oBhbtatdmL1U9PGdA399Jhn0ykttJ0JPA9iOmDsQPNf1nBZFc929vFkQB3DrqPUTUGQh1hUJ2sa_zRJ0AnQqvGp3SjCVmJxu1o9dmP/s640/blogger-image-1802175024.jpg"></a></div><div><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgo_3ENEesYlIZm1kIgw-ACwa8jqREU1X76xwREW7qEPluZd1lmYY7rwpB_UZhnfzDPklGzsrVRc5WBSEe4UD5dVWAk-dVMFW6HOA6J7yVvvvv-_U1LHBz3uZH0KTAWhDsXGp8YeI64Eo1s/s640/blogger-image--1256625021.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgo_3ENEesYlIZm1kIgw-ACwa8jqREU1X76xwREW7qEPluZd1lmYY7rwpB_UZhnfzDPklGzsrVRc5WBSEe4UD5dVWAk-dVMFW6HOA6J7yVvvvv-_U1LHBz3uZH0KTAWhDsXGp8YeI64Eo1s/s640/blogger-image--1256625021.jpg"></a></div><p></p>
<p dir="ltr">We are spending the night in Staunton, Va. at the farm of good friend Joe Surratt who has three championship hunter horses (one is a grandson of Secretariat), two dogs, one cat, and lots of chickens. It's peaceful and gorgeous. </p><p dir="ltr"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOYjb5D2Rpgh-FhFPgk3xNfmL8-xgzzBvdmfrBirmjLWT9hYwJEMFDBZ1TJEmLcwNy73A1UZtwtFeAWb-kEYPjHbYbE0-0C95PEyA4nk8tMxD3x77XN0IzBRXnjfVc2LWYxU4i2RnjnKa3/s640/blogger-image--407667022.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOYjb5D2Rpgh-FhFPgk3xNfmL8-xgzzBvdmfrBirmjLWT9hYwJEMFDBZ1TJEmLcwNy73A1UZtwtFeAWb-kEYPjHbYbE0-0C95PEyA4nk8tMxD3x77XN0IzBRXnjfVc2LWYxU4i2RnjnKa3/s640/blogger-image--407667022.jpg"></a></div><br><p></p>
mark chttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07918301844711569207noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1422613882494783987.post-70649264820492771452014-11-22T13:41:00.001-08:002014-11-22T16:05:07.004-08:00Vanessa lives!<p dir="ltr">Jimmie called this afternoon to tell me Vanessa was finished. I couldn't believe it since he had told me Thursday he didn't expect her to be done until Monday (many thanks to Eion for overnighting the parts Jimmie needed. Once again Eion was there for us when we needed him.)</p><p dir="ltr">Vanessa's rear bearings were shot and that's what was causing the noise, so those have been replaced. Jimmie also replaced the rear transaxles, fixed the last coolant leak, replaced all four wheel adapters (they were, in the words of Jimmie, "wallered out"), cleaned the headlights, and reattached bumper trim. And he washed the van. </p><p dir="ltr">
So I took her out for a test drive and she runs better than ever. Quiet and smooth. No more ker-klunk coming from her backside. Yippee!<br>
So now we can depart as soon as John gets back from Chicago, likely Tuesday morning. <br>
Many many many thanks to Jimmie and his wonderful wife Ruthie. I don't think there is another mechanic within 500 miles of Lexington who could have done what he did, and he's a terrific guy too. But my vanagon insanity is infectious. Now Jimmie wants one too! And I'm going to help him find one.</p>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVKCCTYP-TJLsU39-IfRPjaASOdmXo181N3E-YPBWUItux9zgEmLajUNZs6he5khyphenhyphenvV3cgYR2r7FqR0aMKM4zLZ3dSxO4bmijGzdKy2_w73oPVDmcqNhI_4BSnrUepLkPUX6ywzxlRwLwG/s1600/IMG_20141122_150205_241.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"> <img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVKCCTYP-TJLsU39-IfRPjaASOdmXo181N3E-YPBWUItux9zgEmLajUNZs6he5khyphenhyphenvV3cgYR2r7FqR0aMKM4zLZ3dSxO4bmijGzdKy2_w73oPVDmcqNhI_4BSnrUepLkPUX6ywzxlRwLwG/s640/IMG_20141122_150205_241.jpg"> </a> </div>mark chttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07918301844711569207noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1422613882494783987.post-77685240322195078952014-11-18T13:23:00.001-08:002014-11-18T15:19:11.931-08:00Ker-klunk, ker-klunk, ker-klunk....That was the sound we started hearing from the drive train last night about an hour west of Louisville. It got louder the further we drove, so by the time we reached my sister's house at midnight we were convinced something was about to fall off from under the van.<div>My sister recommended a local mechanic, Jimmie. His shop was at his house about nine miles away. The drive there thru rolling horse country this morning was beautiful but cold.</div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4X2mpp-vR9USsFHVvWyHlM8IotPm-Nb0h1MntlGzXXiGywHHtdLfuwPBP8UaqEABbcWtsWG_05ydiClq22jKo3I9aQxYLEeo8Lvb0JHfefc2NA1xmjDYOJ1Mh-lc7iDLpkiBtcdmjiJpb/s640/blogger-image-28150601.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4X2mpp-vR9USsFHVvWyHlM8IotPm-Nb0h1MntlGzXXiGywHHtdLfuwPBP8UaqEABbcWtsWG_05ydiClq22jKo3I9aQxYLEeo8Lvb0JHfefc2NA1xmjDYOJ1Mh-lc7iDLpkiBtcdmjiJpb/s640/blogger-image-28150601.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwWW0UwLP-axUJFnIsDo5fYWknAn3pnOSbLxGd-R2N_6osl_RRus3SO77K6s-bGdeppmuWQ0tetEVYWXZ42zU0Geyfkqrmugv0mMPhd0jVdkfHTSM3vppWJJTjeq8cdvkbK-OgconXPTBm/s640/blogger-image-2072529461.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwWW0UwLP-axUJFnIsDo5fYWknAn3pnOSbLxGd-R2N_6osl_RRus3SO77K6s-bGdeppmuWQ0tetEVYWXZ42zU0Geyfkqrmugv0mMPhd0jVdkfHTSM3vppWJJTjeq8cdvkbK-OgconXPTBm/s640/blogger-image-2072529461.jpg"></a></div></div><br></div><div>When we went out to the van in the morning, Vanessa had been incontinent of coolant again. What the hell??? Aargh!!!</div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbbBsyfu6-sKtmcBUhVzCPnJYXW2OGLwLx-XhstfzWEPPT8ordH4Ha-FuHJ4naSofrE243xcHn7_loWHIqSSjWnoUDuPcZcqAJoISwkBwcn205SxNg9sJz8BjgtKMCn3S_zjtuli0w6mCo/s640/blogger-image--1557020378.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbbBsyfu6-sKtmcBUhVzCPnJYXW2OGLwLx-XhstfzWEPPT8ordH4Ha-FuHJ4naSofrE243xcHn7_loWHIqSSjWnoUDuPcZcqAJoISwkBwcn205SxNg9sJz8BjgtKMCn3S_zjtuli0w6mCo/s640/blogger-image--1557020378.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div>We made it to Jimmie's without anything falling off but the noise was louder than ever.</div><div>Jimmie restores cars and motorcycles. This is a '38 truck he restored from a rusted shell. It's worth over $125k.</div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6qiDp1SNY1Mvg82DiCEHg73viG-uKZ8RNNRd94gKzsUDHhsh_sGGa8G3FoEgUBQTA7aUpMK5bqNkjs34KSWenkKeHM0YZdzy0HsmBhOTp88kjxv4EJmW_W2Hrq37bbpnpBYuRWl4kj0sa/s640/blogger-image--1595471097.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6qiDp1SNY1Mvg82DiCEHg73viG-uKZ8RNNRd94gKzsUDHhsh_sGGa8G3FoEgUBQTA7aUpMK5bqNkjs34KSWenkKeHM0YZdzy0HsmBhOTp88kjxv4EJmW_W2Hrq37bbpnpBYuRWl4kj0sa/s640/blogger-image--1595471097.jpg"></a></div></div><div><br></div><div>So now Jimmie is figuring out what's making the terrible sound from under Vanessa: cv joint, bearings, transaxle, drive shaft? Eion is kindly shipping parts overnight to Jimmy. But if it is the drive shaft, we may have to remove it and go with 2wd until we get back to Seattle next year.</div><div>The good news is Thanksgiving with my family in Kentucky is looking more and more likely.</div><div>And the girls are enjoying a fenced-in back yard and a house to run around in too.</div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtGAI52U0e4zXv0lqYJDC2Zv139QYMJonuHxKz_iWORHnRTjL1xx3KFK_8EMzG893JRglzKnSjXMIj2xD3CvlqMPTzH702PjlkW4EcDOubBIUxytHM0gIxADT0ZrPZyQtJagnwWrEUAyuy/s640/blogger-image-787812228.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtGAI52U0e4zXv0lqYJDC2Zv139QYMJonuHxKz_iWORHnRTjL1xx3KFK_8EMzG893JRglzKnSjXMIj2xD3CvlqMPTzH702PjlkW4EcDOubBIUxytHM0gIxADT0ZrPZyQtJagnwWrEUAyuy/s640/blogger-image-787812228.jpg"></a></div><br></div>mark chttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07918301844711569207noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1422613882494783987.post-32514455885909772662014-11-17T11:34:00.001-08:002014-11-17T17:46:55.428-08:00Here's to Fred!Fred at Browns Automotive worked all weekend and most of this morning getting Vanessa road-worthy again. New starter motor, new wiring, and several coolant leaks fixed.<div><br><div>Here's Fred:</div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZ1YmOBQc0qToWXLll0iUc2UYZAQM7BEGoMaCYPdkL9cfVMzYhp47XIZw3owf978cmMNIykEhA4PzBufgDpXIEhqEyoNoHRRimGTqwZJAfZrpgm8PbQKBIiQy3Vo4spwPmE04zcS1KHBSb/s640/blogger-image-521735602.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZ1YmOBQc0qToWXLll0iUc2UYZAQM7BEGoMaCYPdkL9cfVMzYhp47XIZw3owf978cmMNIykEhA4PzBufgDpXIEhqEyoNoHRRimGTqwZJAfZrpgm8PbQKBIiQy3Vo4spwPmE04zcS1KHBSb/s640/blogger-image-521735602.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">The dogs, John, and I are extremely grateful to him for all his hard work. He had tickets to the Chiefs/Seahawks game and friends visiting from Seattle but he stayed in the shop most of the weekend to work on Vanessa. He's a good man and we owe him big time.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">We departed KC around 12:30. We decided to stick to interstate highways to make time and to be near services should we have another breakdown, at least until we have total confidence in Vanessa again. So not many scenic pics today unfortunately; interstate highways pretty much all look the same.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><br></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">But we did pass <span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">many of these:</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWJqMc5tvDNdXlxY5C4kjN9q7-QH8gqqMmNYuIVTaaUlDAKnwohqOi1N5iHnkSQhyYrWu2C3Wn-ZnWE9keMZNYurYPrpotYHMn-MBg1aasgmJcrIWSp3yUsYAjwL10ooT5FY1SMABbaQO7/s640/blogger-image-1599393368.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWJqMc5tvDNdXlxY5C4kjN9q7-QH8gqqMmNYuIVTaaUlDAKnwohqOi1N5iHnkSQhyYrWu2C3Wn-ZnWE9keMZNYurYPrpotYHMn-MBg1aasgmJcrIWSp3yUsYAjwL10ooT5FY1SMABbaQO7/s640/blogger-image-1599393368.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0PJdPVw7whyphenhyphenohiuBI4JailPvwF3CzJmRoEdt_QgS3_3XV-_jtQL0bM8fWViyB8P8rUh4PpxqVbXF3G9ct5dpmH6yFoUu9wbm7l4DphJzVZKc2VRl1nDaVSl_miF1HOy3y1n8QGG2kXC_R/s640/blogger-image--2014133623.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0PJdPVw7whyphenhyphenohiuBI4JailPvwF3CzJmRoEdt_QgS3_3XV-_jtQL0bM8fWViyB8P8rUh4PpxqVbXF3G9ct5dpmH6yFoUu9wbm7l4DphJzVZKc2VRl1nDaVSl_miF1HOy3y1n8QGG2kXC_R/s640/blogger-image--2014133623.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Red states sure seem to love their porn (and churches). Haven't these people heard of the internet where porn is free and you can shop for "personal" items from the anonymity and comfort of your LaZBoy recliner?</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">We passed a sign for infamous Ferguson. Mo. then the St. Louis arch, and finally East St. Louis, Illinois, a very depressed and depressing place.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">It's now on to Lexington, Ky tonight to see my mom, brother, and sister (and do a few loads of stinky laundry. We've been wearing the same clothes since the van went to the shop. Maybe a bonfire instead?)</div></div><br></div><br></div></div>mark chttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07918301844711569207noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1422613882494783987.post-18504713059026595282014-11-16T08:00:00.001-08:002014-11-16T15:26:05.131-08:00Another Day in KCVanessa was not ready this morning, so we rooted for the Hawks. Didn't help. <div>John thoroughly enjoyed the concert last night while I watched reruns of "The Big Bang Theory" in bed with the mutts.</div><div><br></div><div>Here's Johns account of the concert:</div><div><br></div><div>Wasn't sure about the idea of Natalie with a symphony, but she was phenomenal. After 2 hours someone from the audience yelled "Wonder" and <span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">Natalie responded "do you see a suggestion box anywhere?" The audience laughed.</span></div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxxdBf2_Jc1g8swBLdNZ2PJto6aAsF_oFbJug1p-UfuVnX27phOINLjq2VWJMORL8YVFQQX97owfuoMPWihsZLK2j9HbaEkPYnKsAUpQa6oVcouJ1aKYhhIREJQD9MppwcJOh2VxxN7juO/s640/blogger-image--2020361366.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxxdBf2_Jc1g8swBLdNZ2PJto6aAsF_oFbJug1p-UfuVnX27phOINLjq2VWJMORL8YVFQQX97owfuoMPWihsZLK2j9HbaEkPYnKsAUpQa6oVcouJ1aKYhhIREJQD9MppwcJOh2VxxN7juO/s640/blogger-image--2020361366.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div>Once the symphony finished, she came back out for an encore, which lasted 45 minutes and was just soulful and beautiful.</div><div>The hall (Kauffman Center) is a statement of architectural wonder and excellence, and was designed by Moshe Safdie.</div><div>Google has great images of it. Here are some I took: </div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDmEChQAAxV_eRw8cH2vHQiBuzfx7N1y6XOwHj7ZI4qOF8xumTVrGKUt7PsOP8aILDJjRNG6TH0XmxCfNJEE8uihikoIP66zRd7vo2Y7VdXt7XKxWeZPnEpdX4_0ayoCfvn2vt5sHg2tnM/s640/blogger-image--1086756412.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDmEChQAAxV_eRw8cH2vHQiBuzfx7N1y6XOwHj7ZI4qOF8xumTVrGKUt7PsOP8aILDJjRNG6TH0XmxCfNJEE8uihikoIP66zRd7vo2Y7VdXt7XKxWeZPnEpdX4_0ayoCfvn2vt5sHg2tnM/s640/blogger-image--1086756412.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnfb4BOntqbObzkI36HXbDik7t71TWC4uVooJM05hpH_cxMPrYuKgRyChErA9CaTL7mv2tNohFQ2T_23v-aHO4B19dBxRpodAgAFMdRuwyG0ffJjDKE8ZuoCzYnk0esMfegtdWC8ydn3GW/s640/blogger-image--16340085.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnfb4BOntqbObzkI36HXbDik7t71TWC4uVooJM05hpH_cxMPrYuKgRyChErA9CaTL7mv2tNohFQ2T_23v-aHO4B19dBxRpodAgAFMdRuwyG0ffJjDKE8ZuoCzYnk0esMfegtdWC8ydn3GW/s640/blogger-image--16340085.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-XVdAs_W_0xQu5kba9PsC3TY9WrQcCXsC7Z8ZhcEvG1n21KFgwZK3Kc5iZ0VjYn2kV9P3poC8uDihlzwGta8zL9tbW3myfhqjCfwMkdA46cs9YlaZ3MY5mfDPcygr2wkQUjKORrlydSou/s640/blogger-image--1055407938.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-XVdAs_W_0xQu5kba9PsC3TY9WrQcCXsC7Z8ZhcEvG1n21KFgwZK3Kc5iZ0VjYn2kV9P3poC8uDihlzwGta8zL9tbW3myfhqjCfwMkdA46cs9YlaZ3MY5mfDPcygr2wkQUjKORrlydSou/s640/blogger-image--1055407938.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">UPDATE:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">We were told at 4:00 pm that Vanessa was ready so we took a cab out to the shop. Wrong. When we arrived at the shop we were told the van wouldn't be ready now til tomorrow at the earliest so we took the same Uber cab right back to the hotel. Waaaaaa.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Three nights at the Intercontinental so far. It's only money, right?</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">We will give the local shop one more day to try to fix Vanessa and if they can't we will ship her back to Seattle and rent a car from KC to FLL. John and I are both very frustrated and tired at this point. <span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"> (Ever seen a grown man cry? If you haven't I'll ask John to take a pic) . I promised him no breakdowns this year. I was wrong. He is a good man. He hasn't complained (yet).</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">Hoping for success tomorrow. It's either that or a big box of Kleenex. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><br></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><br></div><br></div><br></div><br></div><br></div><br></div><br></div><div><br></div>mark chttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07918301844711569207noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1422613882494783987.post-38425233459691760042014-11-15T15:49:00.001-08:002014-11-16T06:07:04.047-08:00WaitingShort post for those who follow this blog (both of you). The shop worked on Vanessa all day. Coolant leaks are being addressed and they are working on installing a new starter motor. <div>It is snowing now and the shop is closed for the night but the owner says he will work on it again tomorrow if he can get to his shop.</div><div>John is going to the Symphony tonight and I'm staying in the hotel with the mutts (hotel policy is dogs cannot be left alone in room. They bent that policy for us yesterday but cant push it).</div><div>Anyone have a Sprinter for sale?</div>mark chttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07918301844711569207noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1422613882494783987.post-79054271626233225002014-11-14T15:13:00.001-08:002014-11-14T18:17:01.914-08:00We're not in Kansas anymoreEion is a saint. He was up at 5:30 am Seattle time to talk us thru what to do with Vanessa. He correctly diagnosed that we had an air lock in the cooling system and told me over the phone how to purge it. He spent an hour talking to us, then he found a shop in Kansas City where they could fix the starter.<div>Once we got Vanessa started after bleeding the air out of the radiator we didn't turn the engine off again until we pulled into the repair shop in Kansas City, even keeping the engine running to refuel.</div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKX1Z11SK9RfapBt_12YmuNNcbw9746c6-oIvZYcujumSXJo_F33AzgM6kZvRXPFQf7-GNDE9uOYDPfEL1xY1TUl5ht0VOAVoHD1XiOls-xUgzY6qHAxYqO-TDnfBxcANKuxKD6EUwJ3YH/s640/blogger-image--1217687499.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKX1Z11SK9RfapBt_12YmuNNcbw9746c6-oIvZYcujumSXJo_F33AzgM6kZvRXPFQf7-GNDE9uOYDPfEL1xY1TUl5ht0VOAVoHD1XiOls-xUgzY6qHAxYqO-TDnfBxcANKuxKD6EUwJ3YH/s640/blogger-image--1217687499.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Freddy at Brown's auto shop couldn't have been nicer to us. He lived in Seattle previously, worked at University VW, and loves Vanagons. He even gave us a ride to the hotel when we couldn't find a cab.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">While Vanessa is having work done we are staying at the Hotel Intercontinental across from Country Club Plaza, the oldest shopping center in the US, built in the '20s. It reminds us of Coral Gables. Beautiful</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqvfDWT4yV7qcd-1o_JK3LhFJT36e8zQ8FMkOPezd1B08ScQDPNTw8_db7d7xreFzMBZv-aQ-3VfpP4Mi222Onz1wmBlkoCrMdppSgAx4YWPre2m_8ruow5Ki9iqmpcBc8Hf4ZC27Slf-x/s640/blogger-image-943388063.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqvfDWT4yV7qcd-1o_JK3LhFJT36e8zQ8FMkOPezd1B08ScQDPNTw8_db7d7xreFzMBZv-aQ-3VfpP4Mi222Onz1wmBlkoCrMdppSgAx4YWPre2m_8ruow5Ki9iqmpcBc8Hf4ZC27Slf-x/s640/blogger-image-943388063.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKVvmjpat1mNOyJ5I5NFnHW1dbqf-Hf9EDADKj-TrosAGsh473pWEo1YAjWq0RCk2mTYA5YL-xGJ7a_AmOHfrq4PVIcioSIYviIXUQ6cl0xfNQyTmdvNhfy8_o6sokkbkaaxU3mTM8M3qr/s640/blogger-image--991604645.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKVvmjpat1mNOyJ5I5NFnHW1dbqf-Hf9EDADKj-TrosAGsh473pWEo1YAjWq0RCk2mTYA5YL-xGJ7a_AmOHfrq4PVIcioSIYviIXUQ6cl0xfNQyTmdvNhfy8_o6sokkbkaaxU3mTM8M3qr/s640/blogger-image--991604645.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">We had lunch at Jack Stack Barbecue, and the food was amazing. Best barbecue we have ever eaten, by far.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGcX4Fsdf-yhvgAGE4_nfwmimTnToLR-NL1UWIpYdftYiJefkH19AAqTqYKIBsmj3gWOpuEHRj4_pyD-n4a_hyAMwAoQmCvkWyoPG8tpHWofWRR07vjYfpiFy0JJlw1JXlABEK05l_q53C/s640/blogger-image--1206453570.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGcX4Fsdf-yhvgAGE4_nfwmimTnToLR-NL1UWIpYdftYiJefkH19AAqTqYKIBsmj3gWOpuEHRj4_pyD-n4a_hyAMwAoQmCvkWyoPG8tpHWofWRR07vjYfpiFy0JJlw1JXlABEK05l_q53C/s640/blogger-image--1206453570.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">"Burnt ends" and "cheesy corn" were especially delicious, and I had sworn off red meat.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">After lunch we walked over to The Nelson-Atkins Museum, absolutely world class.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhf_CQ008FGwhJJr7EtekbX4Qu1E0JlCpwlXT4Atb-8rYXuV0coCEXOLf4VEiqFdxG5ptkMuRiwe3BJk41m9FcfmsS_dMI6TJPq2xrCiJ6Gow6Os1TyfzQ_5p5XrlfdQcnMz4juXpJ-OGem/s640/blogger-image--981904126.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhf_CQ008FGwhJJr7EtekbX4Qu1E0JlCpwlXT4Atb-8rYXuV0coCEXOLf4VEiqFdxG5ptkMuRiwe3BJk41m9FcfmsS_dMI6TJPq2xrCiJ6Gow6Os1TyfzQ_5p5XrlfdQcnMz4juXpJ-OGem/s640/blogger-image--981904126.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_40HzN6C42CE4pRnCymtks66JzY66ioKOuratX16pWOhk8JwBnHzopXHFvnLU6znsYnawONDQptd9MxdXuDTwRO4Uf28tapf14poNyY2BVDW2TaYYm3qZpPvOnfN4O52aQUWD1ZtlcBu1/s640/blogger-image-1118180958.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_40HzN6C42CE4pRnCymtks66JzY66ioKOuratX16pWOhk8JwBnHzopXHFvnLU6znsYnawONDQptd9MxdXuDTwRO4Uf28tapf14poNyY2BVDW2TaYYm3qZpPvOnfN4O52aQUWD1ZtlcBu1/s640/blogger-image-1118180958.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjySZWjDL0vh14mdxmY9pAtvNpv91Eh-OGJUMR02_isV7vC0tMPSTlkou6SJ9ub0t19ArQG8b0bo3It9J8V2LtvMX5PECFAeqk07FHp9-CWvPrsKkrNLYDx99gI_sL-dNGa-e_PEYBo4MX3/s640/blogger-image--1376250653.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjySZWjDL0vh14mdxmY9pAtvNpv91Eh-OGJUMR02_isV7vC0tMPSTlkou6SJ9ub0t19ArQG8b0bo3It9J8V2LtvMX5PECFAeqk07FHp9-CWvPrsKkrNLYDx99gI_sL-dNGa-e_PEYBo4MX3/s640/blogger-image--1376250653.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwEPP3-zORhEhWCMJrLYl_cY4NIFkDtzcCHSEEEUj29jTagOn8n0p77x-WWKtaII66c5wk5v_y2PsyS2gN7ryxzUPev4BIGBDUtOU79EWBpU9jAbp1mlOpw31WuljWPSRVNPx1MtyhJlcz/s640/blogger-image--1158514381.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwEPP3-zORhEhWCMJrLYl_cY4NIFkDtzcCHSEEEUj29jTagOn8n0p77x-WWKtaII66c5wk5v_y2PsyS2gN7ryxzUPev4BIGBDUtOU79EWBpU9jAbp1mlOpw31WuljWPSRVNPx1MtyhJlcz/s640/blogger-image--1158514381.jpg"></a></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">The new Bloch Building was spectacular.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSmjh6RsG7o717sROX1JIl5StV0V4-x0U5lNFiRquLe2rnsSG6zpGWV_RDQvcCayyErQCi-p2zZtkbOcfriPie8cR7DsMuob0Yud-1bfLd5BS0tvfOJBBNPzZn1Pnv9bY3HnuUzOE6Mnqj/s640/blogger-image-1509949100.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSmjh6RsG7o717sROX1JIl5StV0V4-x0U5lNFiRquLe2rnsSG6zpGWV_RDQvcCayyErQCi-p2zZtkbOcfriPie8cR7DsMuob0Yud-1bfLd5BS0tvfOJBBNPzZn1Pnv9bY3HnuUzOE6Mnqj/s640/blogger-image-1509949100.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQ3eNGbVih-H_KYZ-rzi4qHMNdTnaYjgMC1XeIr6Nm7oxH1wgULlFSCFfqOCLHJ6C0_EfkNSF9yRfRyxO8_xuz7TQgwe7Sjt904q0r_65HtdmoUoxbjDDiSew1s3l1Imm9aLw3SA8vIDzg/s640/blogger-image--883102271.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQ3eNGbVih-H_KYZ-rzi4qHMNdTnaYjgMC1XeIr6Nm7oxH1wgULlFSCFfqOCLHJ6C0_EfkNSF9yRfRyxO8_xuz7TQgwe7Sjt904q0r_65HtdmoUoxbjDDiSew1s3l1Imm9aLw3SA8vIDzg/s640/blogger-image--883102271.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwCmJ1tMBHHfbvW0_YtP-wuZw_VoGxN3KYS0BI_6nUIW6HZoEsDmG2OBm6sdFLAnhvj1INFhnipPwcYie7k4MbVsFCgGD88tUUCR1dtSDl-wQE2n_xm_grGu5_lzdkQL_RVNOair440cts/s640/blogger-image--58258369.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwCmJ1tMBHHfbvW0_YtP-wuZw_VoGxN3KYS0BI_6nUIW6HZoEsDmG2OBm6sdFLAnhvj1INFhnipPwcYie7k4MbVsFCgGD88tUUCR1dtSDl-wQE2n_xm_grGu5_lzdkQL_RVNOair440cts/s640/blogger-image--58258369.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">And the Museum was free!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Nearby are the Kemper Museum of Contemporary Art, Kansas City Art Institute, UMKC Gallery of Art, H&R Block ArtSpace,and several libraries and theaters. It's an amazing collection of cultural institutions.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Kansas City is known for its fountains, and reportedly only Rome has more fountains. Sadly most of the fountains have been drained for winter, but here's one:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgL6zPIELqL4Wzb7QPVcjjZ5DBKbIcvRkCRjytLadI4Xu4V5vXSSWKN2ZKjHwRVH4CUbVPV9FMbNRWLRPiBIS7vnQvo2jDh5L-wXaUQqvPWZY0ztp2EGenfO-iEV5dRMXNrgyqENJNAAAF/s640/blogger-image--1087279857.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgL6zPIELqL4Wzb7QPVcjjZ5DBKbIcvRkCRjytLadI4Xu4V5vXSSWKN2ZKjHwRVH4CUbVPV9FMbNRWLRPiBIS7vnQvo2jDh5L-wXaUQqvPWZY0ztp2EGenfO-iEV5dRMXNrgyqENJNAAAF/s640/blogger-image--1087279857.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">All in all, if we had to break down, Kansas City is a nice place to be stranded for a bit. And by coincidence the Seahawks are in town for a game against the Chiefs. If the auto shop has Vanessa ready by tomorrow I'm rooting for the Chiefs! </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Tonight we are enjoying strong drinks and great KC jazz in the Oak Bar.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Krystal and Jesse at the front desk of the hotel took pity on us because of our breakdown and gave us free drinks! (Actually I think it was because they fell in love with the mutts) </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Here they are:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiS-o_Uak-i-eLUaZIzMHHziqC5uUr3FM_1iO7bO62GHD_50wqo7XTx6kqqnn9E0R5ksKwLcCmoE_ARxObUNIWZguVf-0PMepH_c8BNb7EGmFdoTZkR3Yjn9c_K6qXyIYmQMXM5r-tbHb4_/s640/blogger-image--1564613989.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiS-o_Uak-i-eLUaZIzMHHziqC5uUr3FM_1iO7bO62GHD_50wqo7XTx6kqqnn9E0R5ksKwLcCmoE_ARxObUNIWZguVf-0PMepH_c8BNb7EGmFdoTZkR3Yjn9c_K6qXyIYmQMXM5r-tbHb4_/s640/blogger-image--1564613989.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Everyone here is so friendly. And the jazz is terrific too; it should be since Kansas City is the home of Count Basie and Charlie Parker.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheEtqfLsf_8Oi8Jmmd89Z9Jwp_A0d96xWYg2bvsPKXEQBBqc_j_M1zHrs286zPaDbD8CdO-Irdud-xuGLaGAD5_HwQX07L96RnQv84KhGmnZ9UYmx0clHjU44Cjh8nHhWPGbaDecfiVLdJ/s640/blogger-image-1231682396.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheEtqfLsf_8Oi8Jmmd89Z9Jwp_A0d96xWYg2bvsPKXEQBBqc_j_M1zHrs286zPaDbD8CdO-Irdud-xuGLaGAD5_HwQX07L96RnQv84KhGmnZ9UYmx0clHjU44Cjh8nHhWPGbaDecfiVLdJ/s640/blogger-image-1231682396.jpg"></a></div><br></div><br></div><br></div><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"> </div><br></div><br></div><br></div><br></div><br></div><br></div> </div><br></div><br></div><br></div>mark chttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07918301844711569207noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1422613882494783987.post-4209771099665949662014-11-13T05:41:00.001-08:002014-11-14T05:56:05.630-08:00Deep Freeze<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmZYeqN5Ia4C3h8hhJ4kqRzdnrlHvKgh0o1Xuv6TLD4Pn3eWge33toNnmEyBfSYKnHGhpv5A-e4JCcS37QBNc6Ot8apHZmWLaAxEhI9OEibpi2blt6Wk1QVAInPMtpYOqeETZpxWWNJLLO/s640/blogger-image-1353817187.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmZYeqN5Ia4C3h8hhJ4kqRzdnrlHvKgh0o1Xuv6TLD4Pn3eWge33toNnmEyBfSYKnHGhpv5A-e4JCcS37QBNc6Ot8apHZmWLaAxEhI9OEibpi2blt6Wk1QVAInPMtpYOqeETZpxWWNJLLO/s640/blogger-image-1353817187.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">The wind chill of -20 makes it sound worse than it was this morning. The real temp without wind chill was a much better -6.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">We were hopeful we would have heat in the van today. No such luck, so we bundled up and kept the girls under comforters for the ride. John had asked for AC in the new van. I wish he had asked for heat too. We stopped at a WalMart to buy warm socks. Our feet were so cold they were numb.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKUrRVslwXzko9TopJeTFQ2jP6xhR0NG1vfvZoZr0J4b9ouD6p_ghE0ByBiax5WekjaMSqCERf_2Vnc78bBDls9uGTQvsxqVfSzTp-13BKziAmCTYk__B_y2_TGgC-lgCsneW5xJss0ysX/s640/blogger-image--988324487.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKUrRVslwXzko9TopJeTFQ2jP6xhR0NG1vfvZoZr0J4b9ouD6p_ghE0ByBiax5WekjaMSqCERf_2Vnc78bBDls9uGTQvsxqVfSzTp-13BKziAmCTYk__B_y2_TGgC-lgCsneW5xJss0ysX/s640/blogger-image--988324487.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div>Since it was so damn cold we figured we would bypass the icy back roads and stay on interstates. It was I 70 east most of the day.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">We crossed into Kansas where it was barely warmer- 12 degrees and we <span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">stopped soon after to let the dogs pee at a truck stop.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPsKBis5IsTBQrDuSdBvWwk_CQ6ahkKHkGR3EtSCcM852YFOWfLusgxwaLLip2842Bo2Xu-0fXbsE1AHcAQ6N5bJG49AOZ0nbA0zROisiQw80utNO-c-0KiLhl-CzntlIsTfDJ3vEB8i0v/s640/blogger-image--756059865.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPsKBis5IsTBQrDuSdBvWwk_CQ6ahkKHkGR3EtSCcM852YFOWfLusgxwaLLip2842Bo2Xu-0fXbsE1AHcAQ6N5bJG49AOZ0nbA0zROisiQw80utNO-c-0KiLhl-CzntlIsTfDJ3vEB8i0v/s640/blogger-image--756059865.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Don't be fooled by the palm trees. Plastic. Totally fake.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">At the truck stop we elected to try blocking the radiator with cardboard, since the extreme cold temps weren't allowing the coolant to heat up at all, and the van interior is warmed by the hot coolant fluid. Success! We have normal coolant temps and heat inside the van once again! Thank god, cuz John was using the "S" word (Sprinter).</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">No offense to the good people of Kansas, but if there is a more monotonous state I don't know it. Mile after mile of flat wheat fields and tiny farm towns.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWLCK4jp7q7gFI-0hKHeAbnOhIrJ-GwwMLP5-vmysl-hbQMO6Hhy1UyFTboO5tR0_y8QYa221XpuwdXYAW4aq6B3cDb3y2Z7lTcu4NdG4BbbmtieXFY6dG7QdITQszoRTqDFzt9NACZ_nM/s640/blogger-image-481750778.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWLCK4jp7q7gFI-0hKHeAbnOhIrJ-GwwMLP5-vmysl-hbQMO6Hhy1UyFTboO5tR0_y8QYa221XpuwdXYAW4aq6B3cDb3y2Z7lTcu4NdG4BbbmtieXFY6dG7QdITQszoRTqDFzt9NACZ_nM/s640/blogger-image-481750778.jpg"></a></div></div><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">We filled up at a truck stop in Salina, and Vanessa wouldn't start. A kind motorist gave us a jump. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Our next stop was <span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">a Holiday Inn in Abilene, and again the van wouldn't start and she has sprung another coolant leak too. I'm close to losing it after the events of the day, but fortunately John is here to keep me focused. Now I too am questioning why we didn't get a Sprinter. We will troubleshoot in the daylight tomorrow. Or look for a rental car....</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">In the meantime, see if you can match the person with his/ her Kansas hometown. We went thru all of these towns today. And keep fingers crossed we aren't stranded in Abilene. Please.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">TOWN</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">1. Ellis</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">2. Russell</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">3. Salina</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">4. Abilene</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">PERSON</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">A. Dwight D. Eisenhower</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">B. Bob Dole (senator, presidential nominee, and Viagra spokesmodel. Can't blame him. Not much else to do around here)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">C. Walter P. Chrysler</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">D. Judy Barton, played by Kim Novak, in "Vertigo"</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5XJC1fEfYZ5ZDZBwfvXU5CLsK8PTm3Ko23I2ZvA9utem6Fe5T0hJtyislIHDH4z99MMWTPbFaK0V22vJAM1PIwvQIdzDYGjmjFHY241xIcaw2ZKLOI0wGgsQeit3bzt7-NEIzWlrY9wg6/s640/blogger-image-1404239992.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5XJC1fEfYZ5ZDZBwfvXU5CLsK8PTm3Ko23I2ZvA9utem6Fe5T0hJtyislIHDH4z99MMWTPbFaK0V22vJAM1PIwvQIdzDYGjmjFHY241xIcaw2ZKLOI0wGgsQeit3bzt7-NEIzWlrY9wg6/s640/blogger-image-1404239992.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><br></div><br></div><br></div>mark chttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07918301844711569207noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1422613882494783987.post-58793993249414604802014-11-12T17:24:00.001-08:002014-11-12T19:06:08.414-08:00Rocky Mountain HighIt was quite an eventful night and morning. Daisy was up most of the night (trots) and Poppy got sick on the hotel bed. So we were up most of the night too. And another big tip for the hotel housekeeper.<div>John noticed a small coolant fluid puddle under Vanessa this morning. A call to 24 hour roadside assistance (Eion) quickly diagnosed the problem- a loose clamp on a coolant reservoir hose. I tightened it and we were on our way. (Thank you Eion for the great diagnostic skills and instructions)</div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyas7Ia1NqbGLm3brdCeK8VsgK384vo5awoGIgUYscSYIiN1oAcP_l_tikmFl_JrfZbr7YDivt7jALDGjMVVQdBrq14Wqymbxf5Lp7kjGFyambVTtKYYOEKQnYSpOyTCiHYOznsajuziWI/s640/blogger-image-1656203666.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyas7Ia1NqbGLm3brdCeK8VsgK384vo5awoGIgUYscSYIiN1oAcP_l_tikmFl_JrfZbr7YDivt7jALDGjMVVQdBrq14Wqymbxf5Lp7kjGFyambVTtKYYOEKQnYSpOyTCiHYOznsajuziWI/s640/blogger-image-1656203666.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">We continued on hwy 50 to Black Canyon National Park. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjt7Ilh1hrT7XGbU4ZVi_knPBt3nqSHHqygqgceu1FiMq2-lt9GbwujVFzEfd8Z1hUCXNXwAjfP5N1_0rW-uJoYfjXj8_29lkKAdS9QpGVkZ_u4GG0w5lkR6iHYqi8Ae-jODzSMSPxtA374/s640/blogger-image-1450295782.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjt7Ilh1hrT7XGbU4ZVi_knPBt3nqSHHqygqgceu1FiMq2-lt9GbwujVFzEfd8Z1hUCXNXwAjfP5N1_0rW-uJoYfjXj8_29lkKAdS9QpGVkZ_u4GG0w5lkR6iHYqi8Ae-jODzSMSPxtA374/s640/blogger-image-1450295782.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">We were the only ones there. Literally. Not even Parks personnel.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-apirXntGll9wvPBR1sQI7J6ZqnG9sjW7EeXpsRiHtfX-Nd1aOfkz2508MclEQyLXkutKm4lTTfV6B94o05SQbQUWqt2MCaRL6jhC8_VTmD9Uue6dtG4Mg_7j9PcI-x1VO1iRmz3gmaIz/s640/blogger-image--2032987178.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-apirXntGll9wvPBR1sQI7J6ZqnG9sjW7EeXpsRiHtfX-Nd1aOfkz2508MclEQyLXkutKm4lTTfV6B94o05SQbQUWqt2MCaRL6jhC8_VTmD9Uue6dtG4Mg_7j9PcI-x1VO1iRmz3gmaIz/s640/blogger-image--2032987178.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkYkjAQf8xjd9BjIyRb54jfa9ZfOSJXxWme8fudOkJCUDpv11deuZPf68t-uFkk_IK6L2Sv43xozOiPn356cyB_7qVn3UVBxuH4i5LkGuh-2Am5abEtPZuYfBAk8mhY44hEZ3WpsGJuNBZ/s640/blogger-image-24999967.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkYkjAQf8xjd9BjIyRb54jfa9ZfOSJXxWme8fudOkJCUDpv11deuZPf68t-uFkk_IK6L2Sv43xozOiPn356cyB_7qVn3UVBxuH4i5LkGuh-2Am5abEtPZuYfBAk8mhY44hEZ3WpsGJuNBZ/s640/blogger-image-24999967.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJli90oTg73IrOcQoSj2PFG9qlARAxELCMn9KtA7g9FDrgCMmsmuiH013SATcZn8vD9cO2_8Ngyfz7MK4_2MWsA65yaREb-37zAXoX5ixIzZswmrf-m_BPHOPj115KV5LFUJbbIBFL5oLs/s640/blogger-image--1774241863.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJli90oTg73IrOcQoSj2PFG9qlARAxELCMn9KtA7g9FDrgCMmsmuiH013SATcZn8vD9cO2_8Ngyfz7MK4_2MWsA65yaREb-37zAXoX5ixIzZswmrf-m_BPHOPj115KV5LFUJbbIBFL5oLs/s640/blogger-image--1774241863.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">We drove on into a blizzard that hit us at Monarch Pass at elevation 11,312. After passing the Continental Divide, it's all downhill now to Florida. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">We stopped briefly to let the dogs pee and a Westy driver heading the other way made a U turn to make sure we were ok. I can't imagine an Escalade owner doing that; Vanagon owners are the best.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBYEx120E3XErKz2Cr0d_Xmjp-loz3cL3-2V4X0tNBem4E9KWXnUEcoe-sUvlwHvkc5xD7nK0HkGErPgM152Ii2W4VkcmfoyVGIuchLAw2I-h_hzN_sF_yCbFRlHeAxrB2AG90AFKr16r7/s640/blogger-image-1022957147.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBYEx120E3XErKz2Cr0d_Xmjp-loz3cL3-2V4X0tNBem4E9KWXnUEcoe-sUvlwHvkc5xD7nK0HkGErPgM152Ii2W4VkcmfoyVGIuchLAw2I-h_hzN_sF_yCbFRlHeAxrB2AG90AFKr16r7/s640/blogger-image-1022957147.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">The weather got worse the further east we drove. The temperature on the bank sign in Salida, Colorado was 4 degrees. Record cold and snow. It warmed up to a balmy 8 degrees at Canon City.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHR4_TlFvOPkrrydU4EwxhxZghLow_duUrfk41jbX5fG9anO2KN2J5nCs7Y0KcDY2BuFZwbnMV22uw2w1cDPWaAkB8B2sNygMwl5i3vaDlkeIWxvTHHrI67puwLu4mxPqhXLpi4fWgIx2w/s640/blogger-image--436379626.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHR4_TlFvOPkrrydU4EwxhxZghLow_duUrfk41jbX5fG9anO2KN2J5nCs7Y0KcDY2BuFZwbnMV22uw2w1cDPWaAkB8B2sNygMwl5i3vaDlkeIWxvTHHrI67puwLu4mxPqhXLpi4fWgIx2w/s640/blogger-image--436379626.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi18wUg2DtAJbYDawNk4ote1qdR4t6auLQUgXsD_nXdLgyz4_q_s2FUdWQtM1pEFUL_a6g0HsfJWg6Jh5N2FoBRxZ1Dm1wxFh2DFrjDQrqs1Nm2mnUoORW7vX3y1Icad81zlqEoQ2UImZAz/s640/blogger-image--397945318.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi18wUg2DtAJbYDawNk4ote1qdR4t6auLQUgXsD_nXdLgyz4_q_s2FUdWQtM1pEFUL_a6g0HsfJWg6Jh5N2FoBRxZ1Dm1wxFh2DFrjDQrqs1Nm2mnUoORW7vX3y1Icad81zlqEoQ2UImZAz/s640/blogger-image--397945318.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">This was our drive into Pueblo at 30 mph:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWm-KHTvIi1GRe3qjX5uXLzJ1wyQ2t5zSSbJ95Ex2yz0RsDuiDS1aTq-2IoDM4wORGqqRrcDCIHU_vwoM1GLzxyQ1rVVsb1-Lm4YmMw2HBfOC-fQk01NHXayo1sMCoEJOyP6pz5gQHTwah/s640/blogger-image--1707213195.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWm-KHTvIi1GRe3qjX5uXLzJ1wyQ2t5zSSbJ95Ex2yz0RsDuiDS1aTq-2IoDM4wORGqqRrcDCIHU_vwoM1GLzxyQ1rVVsb1-Lm4YmMw2HBfOC-fQk01NHXayo1sMCoEJOyP6pz5gQHTwah/s640/blogger-image--1707213195.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Vanessa handled beautifully in the snow. But it would seem we have an issue with the coolant fluid thermostat; for much of the drive we had no heat, but it didn't bother us or the dogs. We bundled up in our ski jackets and hats and kept the dogs warm under quilts on the bed. Predicted low tonight? 12 BELOW zero! I sure hope Vanessa's thermostat miraculously works again in the morning or it's going to be a very cold drive tomorrow.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">But our Quality Inn in Pueblo has an indoor heated pool. We are happy, especially John since he finally has his "spaaaaaa", even if it is just a Quality Inn.</div><br></div><br></div><br></div><br></div><br></div><br></div><br></div><br></div><br></div></div><br></div><br></div><br></div>mark chttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07918301844711569207noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1422613882494783987.post-26686550721725891632014-11-11T17:24:00.001-08:002014-11-12T05:39:00.322-08:003 dogs tired! John bloggingThe drive from Canyonlands National Park to Telluride was beautiful! The millions of stars last night were like nothing I have ever seen, then at 6 am with the sun up the monument rocks just turned a beautiful orange red.<div><br><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBWpuxqqv6AJN0oNlPqSO4mv1My2tKHkaerCDiahj3fxNb6vE_lQhy46aqAQdINmYiyztkzY2lqRGBOtV9iX8GVcAmSUE3ItATFtXjuzaJ8ft4I00bd_IcBG5bb4s56OHJOf_I2YfqUbKm/s640/blogger-image-1348054053.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBWpuxqqv6AJN0oNlPqSO4mv1My2tKHkaerCDiahj3fxNb6vE_lQhy46aqAQdINmYiyztkzY2lqRGBOtV9iX8GVcAmSUE3ItATFtXjuzaJ8ft4I00bd_IcBG5bb4s56OHJOf_I2YfqUbKm/s640/blogger-image-1348054053.jpg"></a></div></div></div></div><div><br><div>Well Mark wouldn't let me take a pic of him tired, unshaved and no shower, but here's how tired the dogs are:</div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRXSJ5mF2-NNeBDKaHtDUV5I76GXC7UwXbH2Q19Fc6blXRBvHHiWv-kGnZZsW_rSK9nfuaLhUnaK4SKU9eFkgoDfdZIchVk55Nl3hpmlnMmtNvM46DNTvUQQDBKj7_iK7cS6cvGcX3r_EW/s640/blogger-image-26495027.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRXSJ5mF2-NNeBDKaHtDUV5I76GXC7UwXbH2Q19Fc6blXRBvHHiWv-kGnZZsW_rSK9nfuaLhUnaK4SKU9eFkgoDfdZIchVk55Nl3hpmlnMmtNvM46DNTvUQQDBKj7_iK7cS6cvGcX3r_EW/s640/blogger-image-26495027.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div>After 3 days of camping -certainly not glamping- we hit Telluride.</div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtYXUOaBcOGA4e2suwneFn-5XgLpHQjC_qro29JNrFAOQsf-objZ-JujqF_noXfBIs-nPnlIzuGwLXNCQFNzp5JRNVuAryLzSQDxY6-IdJLw2FXclnKpcMbB7PRn6GllA6FXVTjPct0JOZ/s640/blogger-image-1702241817.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtYXUOaBcOGA4e2suwneFn-5XgLpHQjC_qro29JNrFAOQsf-objZ-JujqF_noXfBIs-nPnlIzuGwLXNCQFNzp5JRNVuAryLzSQDxY6-IdJLw2FXclnKpcMbB7PRn6GllA6FXVTjPct0JOZ/s640/blogger-image-1702241817.jpg"></a></div></div></div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghhv8JlNCDJQ2V4bdcjP30upkfN07Hc5yZYY_dD_AAH4J5p4QUBcXz1plCqDUWhO5uXvy367jmgJdRM_FtvPfWzexUuObThryanYtzUJW9fLfrE1Nbcvp5ICSqEz7BTmLs7f_wM5ymW3CR/s640/blogger-image-522650535.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghhv8JlNCDJQ2V4bdcjP30upkfN07Hc5yZYY_dD_AAH4J5p4QUBcXz1plCqDUWhO5uXvy367jmgJdRM_FtvPfWzexUuObThryanYtzUJW9fLfrE1Nbcvp5ICSqEz7BTmLs7f_wM5ymW3CR/s640/blogger-image-522650535.jpg"></a></div></div></div></div></div><div><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><br></span></div><div><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">I was thinking we would stay at a mountain resort and spaaaaaa, but practical Mark said let's stay in town so here we are in town. Instead my spa was a 30 minute shower at the hotel! And after camping for three days I'm sure I would have been arrested walking thru town without a shower.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><br></span></div><div><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQB-r4PWYhMv-xYoQ_S8f_zqXwLCXVkdAZZkcptq9GiAA3kgIUt23iuAsvzCL4gRBUE95d_ta1-KAUmynwD1MWvLXmS14tprabHGqowEEEF9Z3yaUiAqKU6GSoirZqFmKhg2RiKSEEMxkT/s640/blogger-image-286215348.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQB-r4PWYhMv-xYoQ_S8f_zqXwLCXVkdAZZkcptq9GiAA3kgIUt23iuAsvzCL4gRBUE95d_ta1-KAUmynwD1MWvLXmS14tprabHGqowEEEF9Z3yaUiAqKU6GSoirZqFmKhg2RiKSEEMxkT/s640/blogger-image-286215348.jpg"></a></div></span></div><div><div><br><div>It's been 20 ys since I've been here. Then it was a ski town with a Film festival. Now there are more real estate offices and million dollar condos. </div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvFuxTn3x-7ClRsDdVGY0Fb3zULt7DVpSR0rWPv0Tu5C2JHJ1_nVBt-px_x7KwAQRadCNlVYrudKxdPnlD1OYFPNZB67_1lSZ_xj4gzfcbp0Q8w4qK180DWT0ouxP8Bt0U7CDupcOtCXzb/s640/blogger-image-1313934276.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvFuxTn3x-7ClRsDdVGY0Fb3zULt7DVpSR0rWPv0Tu5C2JHJ1_nVBt-px_x7KwAQRadCNlVYrudKxdPnlD1OYFPNZB67_1lSZ_xj4gzfcbp0Q8w4qK180DWT0ouxP8Bt0U7CDupcOtCXzb/s640/blogger-image-1313934276.jpg"></a></div></div><br></div><div>It is still a cute town, set in a very steep slope setting.</div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-nYBDBnQuUO4O-2sqm9voKhDYRrTQ5efqw2cu09LXtJKQuDoLpaRuCnGWFrzsjxgfXzk9D6qAMgVq_TcxiPd7kttrX5pqyUs5Kee51_M8rfjSaTjgN1AK2RrmW2cIa2pDf1FNeN6SgqJY/s640/blogger-image--600486649.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-nYBDBnQuUO4O-2sqm9voKhDYRrTQ5efqw2cu09LXtJKQuDoLpaRuCnGWFrzsjxgfXzk9D6qAMgVq_TcxiPd7kttrX5pqyUs5Kee51_M8rfjSaTjgN1AK2RrmW2cIa2pDf1FNeN6SgqJY/s640/blogger-image--600486649.jpg"></a></div></div><div><br></div><div>but pretty difficult to get to. It is very dog friendly! <span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">Check out this restaurant recommendation :</span></div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNBKT29GAA6I_XsD5uyf2ikQk5Y2OQfq_ocVdpIB6DeHzABqfUXYN2HU0FuyLs5VsAKeg6Bw9z878NcDE9Eg53YFUCmLKiB3K3xyn-dUjmO_69ZpXLfUJR2QVlKgbIPursjNOqPX2UnE9x/s640/blogger-image--1877882558.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNBKT29GAA6I_XsD5uyf2ikQk5Y2OQfq_ocVdpIB6DeHzABqfUXYN2HU0FuyLs5VsAKeg6Bw9z878NcDE9Eg53YFUCmLKiB3K3xyn-dUjmO_69ZpXLfUJR2QVlKgbIPursjNOqPX2UnE9x/s640/blogger-image--1877882558.jpg"></a></div></div><div><br></div><div>We got here just pre season- but the town is gearing up. No snow but it is COLD! </div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAJpObnixgM68pSBAiA-KePJcFIFdzSHm-EEMfqEvYYzfjwhCsa_oV-LKHmxUr1OXt7fgpBVKYzG2vZQ_rW1R-CbilU5qXkTuIM_RrTTLS3Gnd7SFXbrizOvOSFAEzXpF-1u-PiReRUIU3/s640/blogger-image-1435109015.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAJpObnixgM68pSBAiA-KePJcFIFdzSHm-EEMfqEvYYzfjwhCsa_oV-LKHmxUr1OXt7fgpBVKYzG2vZQ_rW1R-CbilU5qXkTuIM_RrTTLS3Gnd7SFXbrizOvOSFAEzXpF-1u-PiReRUIU3/s640/blogger-image-1435109015.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div>Mark was a saint and did laundry while I walked the town (ok,shopped!) I got only a cha tea latte, some super glue for Venessa, and an orange juice squeezer for Fll!</div><div><br></div><div>We are going for some Thai food tonight- enough of the camping food.</div><div><br></div><div>Poppy doesn't like the hotel pillows, so she decided to bring her own!</div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-7a1Q5BDPKFzB2jDYQANFZrHNsBAWe1dR1cECsjkenHU7NbUqoIlArsQvzUx05cM-KL720wIUf1Wnoz3gQOSNh4qyxBqSSEffz_wqzxlsHVI04m_uC_6PL1f2TB_XzcsSAaz7PiPr4ZqG/s640/blogger-image-1875011756.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-7a1Q5BDPKFzB2jDYQANFZrHNsBAWe1dR1cECsjkenHU7NbUqoIlArsQvzUx05cM-KL720wIUf1Wnoz3gQOSNh4qyxBqSSEffz_wqzxlsHVI04m_uC_6PL1f2TB_XzcsSAaz7PiPr4ZqG/s640/blogger-image-1875011756.jpg"></a></div><br></div></div></div></div></div>mark chttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07918301844711569207noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1422613882494783987.post-2370472551622438042014-11-11T11:57:00.001-08:002016-08-13T11:13:27.365-07:00ThoughtsTraveling with a dog is like traveling with a toddler; they have about the same intelligence and communication skills. The difference is a toddler will happily go potty in a diaper but a dog would never consider it. So we have to constantly interpret the dog's behavior to determine if it's time for a potty stop. Is Daisy panting cuz she has to pee or she's just a nervous wreck? (Odds are the latter). Is Poppy sitting up to look for cows or to look for a nearby bush? (Odds are the former). Is that odor from Daisy or is John just trying to blame her? (Odds are the latter). Nine times out of ten it's a false alarm, but it's always a good excuse to stop, admire the scenery, and stretch our legs. But it's also the major reason we travel an average of 30 miles a day.<div><br></div>mark chttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07918301844711569207noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1422613882494783987.post-7903094383974014672014-11-11T11:56:00.001-08:002014-11-18T13:25:03.630-08:00Two dog nightWe awoke just before sunrise to find our campsite surrounded by deer and turkeys, just in time for Thanksgiving.<div><br><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkjl57CKpTjV8OTQJL6eOTllxmcZs6rz2IjLOiVHdyN53cVkP-MbcM6R92fKMA0TMk1LTzPdigqb40L0Q2REKxvLngL-eGskgjlN_ii7goI4YEYBNdtl8t1aR8BsFYRZRkKeyrM4NVlJfT/s640/blogger-image--794958564.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkjl57CKpTjV8OTQJL6eOTllxmcZs6rz2IjLOiVHdyN53cVkP-MbcM6R92fKMA0TMk1LTzPdigqb40L0Q2REKxvLngL-eGskgjlN_ii7goI4YEYBNdtl8t1aR8BsFYRZRkKeyrM4NVlJfT/s640/blogger-image--794958564.jpg"></a></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZl6LuQBX2wEBYiBa3soOkPrjhBzWMic3rHBOuM-NwdnPK9N3bTyGwHi5aGzRAVdO911hQA9jCC76I37oqkUVNaeVf57vCAD5hZqoGlsB-EdO5fsufxfNyhU0L4S0E4BEY84QitP9EdqQP/s640/blogger-image-1915617349.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZl6LuQBX2wEBYiBa3soOkPrjhBzWMic3rHBOuM-NwdnPK9N3bTyGwHi5aGzRAVdO911hQA9jCC76I37oqkUVNaeVf57vCAD5hZqoGlsB-EdO5fsufxfNyhU0L4S0E4BEY84QitP9EdqQP/s640/blogger-image-1915617349.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div></div><div>We have seen a total of 4 Vanagons so far on this trip. One was parked near us in the campground so we stopped before heading out to chat with its owners, Angie and Peter from Salt Lake City. Lovely people. They bought their 1985.5 Westy for only $1700 knowing it needed engine and transmission work. (Funny. I paid ten times that knowing ours needed engine and transmission work). Peter installed a Subaru engine himself and he had had no previous auto mechanical experience. Impressive. I don't know what it is about the cult of Vanagons, but we meet the nicest people who own them (me being the exception to that rule).<br><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Here are Angie and Peter:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKeFpcOY53i4ciZgQ6Pz-PicLJAco78Do2Fmsc1nXBUIMczb0xqVmILgR-GztVCa8sFzXC0AGNLbv0moAKnjQhCOFGd5PCUuJQBQOznQN9hpAljlnz-yJDoEnnXkB13DXp45MBaU5gsIpH/s640/blogger-image-921209922.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKeFpcOY53i4ciZgQ6Pz-PicLJAco78Do2Fmsc1nXBUIMczb0xqVmILgR-GztVCa8sFzXC0AGNLbv0moAKnjQhCOFGd5PCUuJQBQOznQN9hpAljlnz-yJDoEnnXkB13DXp45MBaU5gsIpH/s640/blogger-image-921209922.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">We drove hwy 95 to Natural Bridges National Monument. The highway was the most remote and isolated stretch of road we have yet driven. We saw at most 5 other cars while driving over 100 miles, and passed thru no towns in those miles.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWWQH5JEV0en_mr5p7vciqwwmewu9VLKngsU-qYdg6Hw_x3rn1ZLAkRJLlof7pKtKn6Uqz0pXLTjUT-_qzH5ojJw5ZsCRjmIjxiNkbGqqKmPcY5_Q-ZjXf7aWJb2gtNbTWoN6tsgg5woXG/s640/blogger-image-340467470.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWWQH5JEV0en_mr5p7vciqwwmewu9VLKngsU-qYdg6Hw_x3rn1ZLAkRJLlof7pKtKn6Uqz0pXLTjUT-_qzH5ojJw5ZsCRjmIjxiNkbGqqKmPcY5_Q-ZjXf7aWJb2gtNbTWoN6tsgg5woXG/s640/blogger-image-340467470.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">We drove thru the Glen Canyon National Recreation area before crossing the Colorado River. We had the road and scenery to ourselves.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjtdYoIc33BXbN6YUC3My_6h4A6zBHZaS60y19ZwYIkIEhQRc4YOt0R7SkMQ6geC6aOBts_Hba1hWI7D9NgrWxAHTPPpQkDD-IETEIdPrp_Tqo6zDVe387jl5KAhMUgHiZHObXUEPPyWJQ/s640/blogger-image-53553577.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjtdYoIc33BXbN6YUC3My_6h4A6zBHZaS60y19ZwYIkIEhQRc4YOt0R7SkMQ6geC6aOBts_Hba1hWI7D9NgrWxAHTPPpQkDD-IETEIdPrp_Tqo6zDVe387jl5KAhMUgHiZHObXUEPPyWJQ/s640/blogger-image-53553577.jpg"></a></div></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFj3iNL3B1rHg6BGfYy-IQjqR6Y8pzWSfrkIMohIG0_YjpCQwf3sekj-Q_cubBNmH_IoFQsnDj2twN1MfnwFeAhyphenhyphenoBoupu4zD0ZEZRIDfL-fxMEHn62qm7pWDmwxZ6ZZxpjUI9Tc8vck0i/s640/blogger-image--2011181241.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFj3iNL3B1rHg6BGfYy-IQjqR6Y8pzWSfrkIMohIG0_YjpCQwf3sekj-Q_cubBNmH_IoFQsnDj2twN1MfnwFeAhyphenhyphenoBoupu4zD0ZEZRIDfL-fxMEHn62qm7pWDmwxZ6ZZxpjUI9Tc8vck0i/s640/blogger-image--2011181241.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">That is Vanessa in the distance.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">We stopped at Natural Bridges National Monument to see three arches. Here's one:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiF6GD3FCCwyTOIohjMvR_pjx2qjWSplHpqrmYgSN1X9NbPF03htqkQ_RR_oJ23gdEZID9u_Exowof77Gu2Cs5swiKOcizDtzvtUIDg8_qF1JGAK32kJ68FsOcPqOYf5JMZg0vEuBzj7DSa/s640/blogger-image-598567153.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiF6GD3FCCwyTOIohjMvR_pjx2qjWSplHpqrmYgSN1X9NbPF03htqkQ_RR_oJ23gdEZID9u_Exowof77Gu2Cs5swiKOcizDtzvtUIDg8_qF1JGAK32kJ68FsOcPqOYf5JMZg0vEuBzj7DSa/s640/blogger-image-598567153.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">And then on to our final destination, Canyonlands National Park. We are deep in Mormon country; the one constant is a prominent LDS church in every community no matter how small. That and the grocery stores don't sell beer. For now we are dry, which is a shame because our livers were just getting geared up. I asked John his thoughts on polygamy, but he said one wife is enough for him. Smartass.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Here are some pics from Canyonlands:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghKWNwK8KOzO2cDWyxexfLDyY0P2gYjamGVMHPjLtysjjjJVWTrl5XQ28Nxfmd6pZJjG6FOYk2PYkUpVcXWb44qrmIwSVg_Dfn-0r6NtaZBN3tTF2IfoKweMl6tknL3h-6_Ow6D3oifwqz/s640/blogger-image-1979234969.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghKWNwK8KOzO2cDWyxexfLDyY0P2gYjamGVMHPjLtysjjjJVWTrl5XQ28Nxfmd6pZJjG6FOYk2PYkUpVcXWb44qrmIwSVg_Dfn-0r6NtaZBN3tTF2IfoKweMl6tknL3h-6_Ow6D3oifwqz/s640/blogger-image-1979234969.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQI6skQCw_rbwnPp_Yi4Ic0KFR2O4OC3XuCDkh5pzq3OHh4Okxd8yRKySG8UkUoy31uWTuMCZQmplUm4wSdxiBDj_rtVFGss8jyNKsJKoOuQFRcP9TpbV1X77ZWtO4LpZ6kIRnAK0T48Rl/s640/blogger-image--778082490.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQI6skQCw_rbwnPp_Yi4Ic0KFR2O4OC3XuCDkh5pzq3OHh4Okxd8yRKySG8UkUoy31uWTuMCZQmplUm4wSdxiBDj_rtVFGss8jyNKsJKoOuQFRcP9TpbV1X77ZWtO4LpZ6kIRnAK0T48Rl/s640/blogger-image--778082490.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEje4cdFO-gixDDAYKk0JluNnJBzYi30KLKvsgUixl7MFn8OWz5jFTsgTmVxOrFSA6tZq-i-C9uIq_SW90DSafU4XEKQsP3UyjI8L0wm-qNqGNXlLxc8R5R077n0Plto_j3CUWPQol9AUrfD/s640/blogger-image--304480331.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEje4cdFO-gixDDAYKk0JluNnJBzYi30KLKvsgUixl7MFn8OWz5jFTsgTmVxOrFSA6tZq-i-C9uIq_SW90DSafU4XEKQsP3UyjI8L0wm-qNqGNXlLxc8R5R077n0Plto_j3CUWPQol9AUrfD/s640/blogger-image--304480331.jpg"></a></div></div></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">This is the view from our campsite tonight:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVpzCzfUF5nxabz2NZ_6peeB1GJRS8j4tHpoolLxxxOZcd150Wjd_JmLz87m5VSTsclx6Jv3EpNOlr10IrnPqLFKOtnAwjm-DyRfKWjOMBlHZ_a59UAyQi2TwHbkwMcbSU5v5UtfM4mCbN/s640/blogger-image-640064786.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVpzCzfUF5nxabz2NZ_6peeB1GJRS8j4tHpoolLxxxOZcd150Wjd_JmLz87m5VSTsclx6Jv3EpNOlr10IrnPqLFKOtnAwjm-DyRfKWjOMBlHZ_a59UAyQi2TwHbkwMcbSU5v5UtfM4mCbN/s640/blogger-image-640064786.jpg"></a></div></div><br></div><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">It is supposed to get well below freezing tonight. Good thing we have our mutts to keep us warm. I knew we had them along for a reason.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMhpdfWD5lai6k1uyoJnOdEMpyNjsD3eQ62gOO2Ol_MmMXCpxd7TEP7lGhqYoJC3SOSyKm8mq-SbSyUC793j-RtsVTTYIX6OPIU6kQJ5IKOqffY8VpWprCFI1NtTQl8qEE3-W-kCpZYhFd/s640/blogger-image--944611083.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMhpdfWD5lai6k1uyoJnOdEMpyNjsD3eQ62gOO2Ol_MmMXCpxd7TEP7lGhqYoJC3SOSyKm8mq-SbSyUC793j-RtsVTTYIX6OPIU6kQJ5IKOqffY8VpWprCFI1NtTQl8qEE3-W-kCpZYhFd/s640/blogger-image--944611083.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><br></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">12:30 a.m. Update. The dogs stink at warming the bed, but they are unsurpassed at hogging it.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><br></span></div></span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">p.s. These blog entries are posted a day late because our camp sites are</span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"> too remote for cell service. We upload the next day if we are lucky enough to find cell service in one of the small towns we pass thru.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><br></div><br></div><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><br></div><br></div></div></div>mark chttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07918301844711569207noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1422613882494783987.post-69264426301098852392014-11-10T12:23:00.001-08:002014-11-12T05:55:28.157-08:00Speechless<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">ZION NATIONAL PARK</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCzd4kqrfkoCH0mk89UMSR-Mh1d_HwKdK875EPEobM7c1VdZ1u08EmBFukVfJ3iMHAMZrunRsP4l8xGUNLQNF8aMW_0t_c-rZUofObDrTUHqFHiKafcpFrlR08hiTI4yfK7maSPHc84Kjd/s640/blogger-image-2063575000.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; 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margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6JukSNCNCXS2X3HUpUD5TS5b1Hy_z_qXja238Hle6ahO3DBH7UbbW3P3sAYv8irs06hAMVLJXrTUgFFMNWTHSnlfmIxeCc3-QBFupiBn_XDv8FcL_yEDGTKtNo1VachYnebdfA9EGIsyg/s640/blogger-image--1943833652.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkvr2xJSJEFLcY-KZcqITesy_udQCsvvlZnTfThcjKIx1Gnqs0Iw_Gg5KsVhKDKTuPDEktuouFsmn70WLulZCk8ZxkZ0xE3VyoJj9DUYrUw1kyjVAoOKI7BIrbBkzAecRAsmMfJiLJ_ZRx/s640/blogger-image--1399878805.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkvr2xJSJEFLcY-KZcqITesy_udQCsvvlZnTfThcjKIx1Gnqs0Iw_Gg5KsVhKDKTuPDEktuouFsmn70WLulZCk8ZxkZ0xE3VyoJj9DUYrUw1kyjVAoOKI7BIrbBkzAecRAsmMfJiLJ_ZRx/s640/blogger-image--1399878805.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiF3mRal2oq4H8COPdxfAEgukTYvJabuPorxYcG884QdBsV6EgCVqYAnAmlxn-M-F8xCLG1tTfPT_Emiqt2zSG4v9YKFFh6Jcm0e51jueqE6sKVOMddcPUbuYrYTkNc8xvnszxlSOJTJ4nc/s640/blogger-image--1432616118.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiF3mRal2oq4H8COPdxfAEgukTYvJabuPorxYcG884QdBsV6EgCVqYAnAmlxn-M-F8xCLG1tTfPT_Emiqt2zSG4v9YKFFh6Jcm0e51jueqE6sKVOMddcPUbuYrYTkNc8xvnszxlSOJTJ4nc/s640/blogger-image--1432616118.jpg"></a></div><br></div><br></div><br></div><br></div><br></div><br></div><br></div><br></div><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><br></div><br></div><br></div><br></div><br></div><br></div><br></div><br></div><br></div><br></div><br></div><br></div><br></div><br></div><br></div><br></div><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div>mark chttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07918301844711569207noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1422613882494783987.post-59307036582848593722014-11-09T06:43:00.001-08:002014-11-09T06:43:06.673-08:00Contest clueFor all those who haven't yet entered the contest I'm posting this pic of Vanna pre -makeover to give you an idea how much work went into her:<div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixe_DGd_JKKvB8cjkD6VjHwModl8lFlBfgrTldQbIpilDz3dByoj6VGSPnbXiB06mtCCZUgWV9xEUrGcWeufWSD1OOBPnu3ySUiMU9vW6O3plPl4oIM8TsXPYJjhATZAylkREYcreTguwM/s640/blogger-image--1698790535.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixe_DGd_JKKvB8cjkD6VjHwModl8lFlBfgrTldQbIpilDz3dByoj6VGSPnbXiB06mtCCZUgWV9xEUrGcWeufWSD1OOBPnu3ySUiMU9vW6O3plPl4oIM8TsXPYJjhATZAylkREYcreTguwM/s640/blogger-image--1698790535.jpg"></a></div><br></div>mark chttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07918301844711569207noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1422613882494783987.post-1137328318855345122014-11-08T17:11:00.001-08:002014-11-08T17:11:29.290-08:00UtahAnother long night with Daisy. After accidents in the hotel room and hallway I elected to sleep with her in the van in the casino parking lot. You haven't lived until you've spent a Friday night in a casino parking lot: drunks, tires squealing, car alarms, public urination (ok that last one might have been me.)<div>I was up all night letting Daisy out while John slept soundly with Poppy in the hotel.</div><div>But the morning drive was gorgeous.</div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRnSHH5Teg9eWK8jnMho82cNA0jC7-H_7lRAQD2eopDPadQvAMiJ3mFT03bwVreL2a8MMiUr9kEcYc3ogN69JktEkkU1t9c5MzNXBhGIC2ssyO0lfz9d5S9bsaBZ5uGxxBOCbnqfy5WvFT/s640/blogger-image-967355918.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRnSHH5Teg9eWK8jnMho82cNA0jC7-H_7lRAQD2eopDPadQvAMiJ3mFT03bwVreL2a8MMiUr9kEcYc3ogN69JktEkkU1t9c5MzNXBhGIC2ssyO0lfz9d5S9bsaBZ5uGxxBOCbnqfy5WvFT/s640/blogger-image-967355918.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhELqRQ4v32b4W6TA0NUmLgaJvbjy2YanjTAqvP1sVVvXeuc-dBYnxARw5XdB25D1rhJQSf1xhci52c2LDL5viYdLxmI3Dc-A1_-f9Py-7gissdP02GcJ56urSL1r5Yo0DUuaaqQwkxK5V0/s640/blogger-image--861488625.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhELqRQ4v32b4W6TA0NUmLgaJvbjy2YanjTAqvP1sVVvXeuc-dBYnxARw5XdB25D1rhJQSf1xhci52c2LDL5viYdLxmI3Dc-A1_-f9Py-7gissdP02GcJ56urSL1r5Yo0DUuaaqQwkxK5V0/s640/blogger-image--861488625.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">We ended up at Great Basin National Park. We were the only ones there so we broke the law and did a short hike on a trail with the girls.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjghW1Tx7neb9HaBus47RWuSX-uapKpygtWswZgbsXQifFfh_o4kI8vDlKvf5FCjfIUZupIi15O6YBgp3Ep7eq6zfIGKQ6ygkyAsVoRR4GADd_QykRGXJ0Cg3ztTnIp0lgO7V1AwHrkyB5G/s640/blogger-image-1208778769.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjghW1Tx7neb9HaBus47RWuSX-uapKpygtWswZgbsXQifFfh_o4kI8vDlKvf5FCjfIUZupIi15O6YBgp3Ep7eq6zfIGKQ6ygkyAsVoRR4GADd_QykRGXJ0Cg3ztTnIp0lgO7V1AwHrkyB5G/s640/blogger-image-1208778769.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlqBN6OFnzrIVNyHjctYaG4eFdugdPyMfRkB9OWbLdR0dumEZvMQ88V5TBFRoi1pPVx6v3aJZafIv2kuFOELQaD_lil9jjvWmNakzTCnP29l71GnKXrrWB45W7eoRo8h2L4gDRI-QNYA19/s640/blogger-image--1204042397.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlqBN6OFnzrIVNyHjctYaG4eFdugdPyMfRkB9OWbLdR0dumEZvMQ88V5TBFRoi1pPVx6v3aJZafIv2kuFOELQaD_lil9jjvWmNakzTCnP29l71GnKXrrWB45W7eoRo8h2L4gDRI-QNYA19/s640/blogger-image--1204042397.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilKfqeaka9QL3hMbs4qKnqHNSCgwYYRra2fgpsfmWPpL07VoAdpNCb7TG1zU_MREl7CPpN-hjZ5lzhVYIiXEstGo1gGxW1Thp-SCtlVxKVNczzcecRu1kYiCiYJNjFUGsMk6Zvm3445ifL/s640/blogger-image--2031266800.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilKfqeaka9QL3hMbs4qKnqHNSCgwYYRra2fgpsfmWPpL07VoAdpNCb7TG1zU_MREl7CPpN-hjZ5lzhVYIiXEstGo1gGxW1Thp-SCtlVxKVNczzcecRu1kYiCiYJNjFUGsMk6Zvm3445ifL/s640/blogger-image--2031266800.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Vanessa climbed to the 8,000 foot elevation without complaint (thank you Eion).</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8QJhy3d2kGCP54XKgVhAFW9kTp9kUhMjuFgRGnffd3mFxXxrxAvFtco_RhNX61wYGgZ1qA21y7QwS4t1LLtT8JKrJCVb3VY4NBYlzukBLj4uI-l-QL6A1IwOIGx7cm_jukSvYpOEcfy7m/s640/blogger-image-55828747.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8QJhy3d2kGCP54XKgVhAFW9kTp9kUhMjuFgRGnffd3mFxXxrxAvFtco_RhNX61wYGgZ1qA21y7QwS4t1LLtT8JKrJCVb3VY4NBYlzukBLj4uI-l-QL6A1IwOIGx7cm_jukSvYpOEcfy7m/s640/blogger-image-55828747.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Wheeler Peak in the park is the second highest in Nevada at 13063 feet.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">We continued south to Utah and Zion National Park. We went for miles without seeing anyone, except for this cyclist.</div><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgp2NyxzF-rrRUOzFSg5ISlf-r7K9x3p5eX58t0vlZ4rbCwmkm3GD-MUlyqAP4mY9j2TqOUctFiF_myMKk9-ybfM3WPIv9NZexw1tcX4FdM5kcNHeEDojuTkKaO08OtXqXB2zJDOa7zOiy8/s640/blogger-image-1736950615.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgp2NyxzF-rrRUOzFSg5ISlf-r7K9x3p5eX58t0vlZ4rbCwmkm3GD-MUlyqAP4mY9j2TqOUctFiF_myMKk9-ybfM3WPIv9NZexw1tcX4FdM5kcNHeEDojuTkKaO08OtXqXB2zJDOa7zOiy8/s640/blogger-image-1736950615.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgERPsbctv9HFf3L5HJNq6burdwvyukmdR7O1KfH_1q8ZYJVH3QiuR66OzEWBfWJtkGkNT4rhiez9S_35eKP26GG8F_VMZyFLWFWPDw62XU8WKPDS-lKJqxG3k5fDFo0MSGruotMkOCppZY/s640/blogger-image--290319033.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgERPsbctv9HFf3L5HJNq6burdwvyukmdR7O1KfH_1q8ZYJVH3QiuR66OzEWBfWJtkGkNT4rhiez9S_35eKP26GG8F_VMZyFLWFWPDw62XU8WKPDS-lKJqxG3k5fDFo0MSGruotMkOCppZY/s640/blogger-image--290319033.jpg"></a></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">We passed thru open range for sheep and Poppy loved it. Daisy slept.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWsIHSq4QVa1p6DUt5MZb62rCLIsToEpSm78GEP_ooOZ9rPucdrbWWuQW41rm24jNpf8Yz8w90deb4Vwh3Cqdqk5hF8ZPnD7LRlLPoFOByG3KsQGhTkZtcyLtxbHci7NAANhXIBxj2A4Mt/s640/blogger-image--1447540510.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWsIHSq4QVa1p6DUt5MZb62rCLIsToEpSm78GEP_ooOZ9rPucdrbWWuQW41rm24jNpf8Yz8w90deb4Vwh3Cqdqk5hF8ZPnD7LRlLPoFOByG3KsQGhTkZtcyLtxbHci7NAANhXIBxj2A4Mt/s640/blogger-image--1447540510.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIFR0NUtouVV4jtFPN2KtGbLA8cRhC7xx3iM3s8Q5sCgADVlGETasgWJzlA4A_fPvbq25AEHBd7x7_JN2gaLGtbWoUdjYqTbNAeBfnKN0XerXUY2BX88UxTguChKElcQxCwig5_vLCHoxa/s640/blogger-image--48237896.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIFR0NUtouVV4jtFPN2KtGbLA8cRhC7xx3iM3s8Q5sCgADVlGETasgWJzlA4A_fPvbq25AEHBd7x7_JN2gaLGtbWoUdjYqTbNAeBfnKN0XerXUY2BX88UxTguChKElcQxCwig5_vLCHoxa/s640/blogger-image--48237896.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Tonight we are camping at Zion National Park. Lovely.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEik01JWMWXuHKBA8v0kcl902lvkD3batQpQabmpcUSrm_lI7KPqLfwS1s9oChOcf40QnUJl6O1dgYiHJ0fj_EJHeYHnvBls4killMced0YyqOfW1lujr6WOoLv3qF8JlgbtdXPa2tSQ7i13/s640/blogger-image--1347706454.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEik01JWMWXuHKBA8v0kcl902lvkD3batQpQabmpcUSrm_lI7KPqLfwS1s9oChOcf40QnUJl6O1dgYiHJ0fj_EJHeYHnvBls4killMced0YyqOfW1lujr6WOoLv3qF8JlgbtdXPa2tSQ7i13/s640/blogger-image--1347706454.jpg"></a></div><br></div><br></div><br></div><br></div><br></div><br></div><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><br></div><br></div>mark chttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07918301844711569207noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1422613882494783987.post-23723312765129202292014-11-07T17:43:00.001-08:002014-11-08T16:49:51.791-08:00The Road Less Traveled<p dir="ltr">We spent a long night with a sick dog. Lesson learned is we need to request a ground floor room when traveling with a dog so we can quickly get to a potty place. Lesson two is tip your hotel maid very well when traveling with a sick dog. <br>
But Poppy got to enjoy breakfast in bed this morning as she was really tired. Daisy kept her up all night too. </p><p dir="ltr"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0h3UMmmyVu7UnP9r0weVkUepKVZqzz66-bkYiIscA1SY1hSQEobbgJkZFL9gxco8U0lgFUXkEvJpP_OfpUewIAhcUlX9UejgwsHbXVNbnxkif5P3N6edf1o9u3UXdDD4M4jbTUZjrClm-/s640/blogger-image--609909036.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0h3UMmmyVu7UnP9r0weVkUepKVZqzz66-bkYiIscA1SY1hSQEobbgJkZFL9gxco8U0lgFUXkEvJpP_OfpUewIAhcUlX9UejgwsHbXVNbnxkif5P3N6edf1o9u3UXdDD4M4jbTUZjrClm-/s640/blogger-image--609909036.jpg"></a></div><p></p>
<p dir="ltr">The beauty of Nevada has surprised both of us. Our only impression of the state had been Las Vegas (ugh) and the Grand Canyon.</p><p dir="ltr"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiH-R4s5tvE2-mD-2maCQZQ94iz614H65z-ma-Vd6RxmM3MrngKqAjbQncjz08uiSS2kgS7X93IBNWzDRaqQsEt3m-8R5YpeF9trWZfcEqX5ER1h2o9A-Twl0fujJHJtq9AG1tbzjNaLaq_/s640/blogger-image-303243567.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiH-R4s5tvE2-mD-2maCQZQ94iz614H65z-ma-Vd6RxmM3MrngKqAjbQncjz08uiSS2kgS7X93IBNWzDRaqQsEt3m-8R5YpeF9trWZfcEqX5ER1h2o9A-Twl0fujJHJtq9AG1tbzjNaLaq_/s640/blogger-image-303243567.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigh6UvoriwWPm5m5RX5TV3w-3qkAhwzU605kknacBnK1BCfH-Y4SNH0IWu1tq5L3F1Av9bOwwgmMD-BAnxP8d2vHpTwDFabJrNnH8ATnl9gbZ9hIOogPvF1BQ7VrpI6PHUau6jBJXUAd-P/s640/blogger-image-1415333803.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigh6UvoriwWPm5m5RX5TV3w-3qkAhwzU605kknacBnK1BCfH-Y4SNH0IWu1tq5L3F1Av9bOwwgmMD-BAnxP8d2vHpTwDFabJrNnH8ATnl9gbZ9hIOogPvF1BQ7VrpI6PHUau6jBJXUAd-P/s640/blogger-image-1415333803.jpg"></a></div></div><p></p>
<p dir="ltr">We drove hwy 225 south to Elko and most times we were the only ones on the road. </p><p dir="ltr"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkjvKWjqhiDrCk605TujlonAhCEr8lzMqrUy2RyqaRme6mDmkAS0weXUBfIw3JAM4NP3nJD46pr6i0F2jZk9xRUPhdiYb8sQG0OxCAHkjjgc9GEy0OxFFXhPd9p8XwaoL6m2OBTpAAevBr/s640/blogger-image--984795544.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkjvKWjqhiDrCk605TujlonAhCEr8lzMqrUy2RyqaRme6mDmkAS0weXUBfIw3JAM4NP3nJD46pr6i0F2jZk9xRUPhdiYb8sQG0OxCAHkjjgc9GEy0OxFFXhPd9p8XwaoL6m2OBTpAAevBr/s640/blogger-image--984795544.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">It's open range here, so Poppy loved seeing all the cattle by the road.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKYL_VFM0htK9dQXiFLSgYh67rC89v6uGEWGOUOzRYoOoH0PF0lOcmdGh5B48wFnI4v5QIC_9PutlPiIxCzfJ1gT0HQD7JVRMFopWogCi0F1PU68AFtuHVT1DA42ZOVuFcFyfOW9Z4ZUZw/s640/blogger-image-844412100.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKYL_VFM0htK9dQXiFLSgYh67rC89v6uGEWGOUOzRYoOoH0PF0lOcmdGh5B48wFnI4v5QIC_9PutlPiIxCzfJ1gT0HQD7JVRMFopWogCi0F1PU68AFtuHVT1DA42ZOVuFcFyfOW9Z4ZUZw/s640/blogger-image-844412100.jpg"></a></div></div></div><p></p>
<p dir="ltr">From Elko we had hoped to drive hwy 229 thru Ruby Valley but had to turn around when we saw a sign that the next gas station was 70 miles away and our fuel gauge is not reading accurately (its the one thing we didn't fix in Vanessa). But we did drive 15 miles into the mountains before turning around and it was really beautiful. </p><p dir="ltr"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjT3SX50Pr9Jxl41fGOoWAwElnzRkNLXr40ZT8OWC65e4VAw5DZMJsKE8A2ZuZSySPkduQAfzvvNppuw72uuboO4p4FmLnYD4qopZNASV5uvI8OMOA6Nf03f5hGpdjVxd1PAQptFUf1cMj0/s640/blogger-image--1869400942.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjT3SX50Pr9Jxl41fGOoWAwElnzRkNLXr40ZT8OWC65e4VAw5DZMJsKE8A2ZuZSySPkduQAfzvvNppuw72uuboO4p4FmLnYD4qopZNASV5uvI8OMOA6Nf03f5hGpdjVxd1PAQptFUf1cMj0/s640/blogger-image--1869400942.jpg"></a></div><p></p>
<p dir="ltr">We filled up in Wells, and then headed down the Great Basin Hwy to Ely. Signs again warned us that gas wouldn't be available for 137 miles, but we felt confident with a full tank. The road once again felt deserted. We saw deer and a big coyote ran across the road right in front of us. </p><p dir="ltr"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWF8W40u7p4uMXtlVPpLwKan9giICdvDhTTQUGQsULegd2PslHuD48hOeJzfGPYKviyeLFl5lOuTGfnS1Sa8t34XJ7ertZllFPJ-sjnRU4hHO2BMAVWy2nK8NeFxXhvErxiDjd8CcfGh1o/s640/blogger-image--745356218.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWF8W40u7p4uMXtlVPpLwKan9giICdvDhTTQUGQsULegd2PslHuD48hOeJzfGPYKviyeLFl5lOuTGfnS1Sa8t34XJ7ertZllFPJ-sjnRU4hHO2BMAVWy2nK8NeFxXhvErxiDjd8CcfGh1o/s640/blogger-image--745356218.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgC2rCZiM6RpdMp1SPyeM28xChO7uuKey-0FYNo_nLUpF_iIdIS1HuDRU6LtTtLI5aAMeu1cQNnlugVqUMnaMheQ_gfmtcTYYuUUAcQ2uk_iBq05klI55jUQBlRFKbQxQI5wK7SG5TN1Lvx/s640/blogger-image--364729250.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgC2rCZiM6RpdMp1SPyeM28xChO7uuKey-0FYNo_nLUpF_iIdIS1HuDRU6LtTtLI5aAMeu1cQNnlugVqUMnaMheQ_gfmtcTYYuUUAcQ2uk_iBq05klI55jUQBlRFKbQxQI5wK7SG5TN1Lvx/s640/blogger-image--364729250.jpg"></a></div></div><p></p>
<p dir="ltr">We had hoped to make it to Great Basin National Park, but it got dark by the time we hit Ely and the park is another hour away. <br>
So tonight we are staying at the historic Hotel Nevada in downtown Ely (they advertise a "full body shampoo" as an option here. Hmm. This is Nevada after all).</p><p dir="ltr"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLPoNSkiVqOA3MRxV7XHQv6qC8-HjXHIkUu3BfSex9psVEqgV0x2N7o7tZHPZW6YXW-61l_ziktognHkNCexiTd0_obIbwYKMOzEcVZhrebfCEkEbZy_8leeaCux7x4J5do1k1A2v6-2TW/s640/blogger-image-262383430.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLPoNSkiVqOA3MRxV7XHQv6qC8-HjXHIkUu3BfSex9psVEqgV0x2N7o7tZHPZW6YXW-61l_ziktognHkNCexiTd0_obIbwYKMOzEcVZhrebfCEkEbZy_8leeaCux7x4J5do1k1A2v6-2TW/s640/blogger-image-262383430.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Look at all the famous people who have stayed here:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzL1fmOq6o98D_AtHWij7r1njOZ1BcJmlstDpG6O-WlgOzbRWMrJ7ScLjq6mnppVaSB5dmdjKpCLWuYP95JGnsD-fJrrXa63R80dHe5vCoSrpE9-4kLJUZMt6PcTDWKHr0Ip6Sfq2BvO3e/s640/blogger-image-1999684900.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzL1fmOq6o98D_AtHWij7r1njOZ1BcJmlstDpG6O-WlgOzbRWMrJ7ScLjq6mnppVaSB5dmdjKpCLWuYP95JGnsD-fJrrXa63R80dHe5vCoSrpE9-4kLJUZMt6PcTDWKHr0Ip6Sfq2BvO3e/s640/blogger-image-1999684900.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">I'm guessing LBJ enjoyed a "full body shampoo" when he stayed here.</div><p></p>
<p dir="ltr">The bad news is our room is on the fifth floor and Daisy is still sick. Guess our maid will be getting a really big tip in the morning. </p><p dir="ltr">p.s. Dumb me. I had inadvertently blocked comments here. But you can now add comments if you wish. Dumb me.</p><p dir="ltr"><br></p>
mark chttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07918301844711569207noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1422613882494783987.post-36923477369073004692014-11-06T16:28:00.001-08:002014-11-06T22:25:39.336-08:00Famous potatoes<p dir="ltr">After a momentous evening camping in the van (momentous because I finally beat John at scrabble) we awoke at 5:30 while it was still pitch dark. The campground had no facilities so I showered using water heated on the stove, but John refused. I think he was still sore cuz he lost at scrabble and he wanted me to suffer in the van all day.<br>
The sunrise on the road was beautiful, and so was Idaho.</p><p dir="ltr"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHH4BfmzqrC-q0ptrzmDtsj2SHthSNZCX9RoBXSt57sQXscMtrSO3Czsg2LzR2N9y2RkwhZ2jWkuXXYLn8VPBY9rYChZCNXYDzwiqZOQiGVPMrdtOofPkpAOzjLKfwZKYvBYqj0OXdBwiB/s640/blogger-image--519687093.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHH4BfmzqrC-q0ptrzmDtsj2SHthSNZCX9RoBXSt57sQXscMtrSO3Czsg2LzR2N9y2RkwhZ2jWkuXXYLn8VPBY9rYChZCNXYDzwiqZOQiGVPMrdtOofPkpAOzjLKfwZKYvBYqj0OXdBwiB/s640/blogger-image--519687093.jpg"></a></div><p></p>
<p dir="ltr">We drove highway 95 south along the Nez Perce trail while following the Salmon River and then continued on highway 55. We had a strong westerly wind so it was difficult to keep Vanessa on the straight and narrow. But the scenery was gorgeous. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUXcxuxMo5QG4E67MmpSZoABXhAtToU5sQn9IS8UwrKjGfT9Fv8i9SdREQzet4uVwB4iVUDO8T4WvBBJNrD-ieSNjGBOJVolz8hBguqzWac4LLJKG3QnuV1nN5QPAUl9RULzQJ2oskBK4m/s640/blogger-image--1403166172.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUXcxuxMo5QG4E67MmpSZoABXhAtToU5sQn9IS8UwrKjGfT9Fv8i9SdREQzet4uVwB4iVUDO8T4WvBBJNrD-ieSNjGBOJVolz8hBguqzWac4LLJKG3QnuV1nN5QPAUl9RULzQJ2oskBK4m/s640/blogger-image--1403166172.jpg"></a></div></div><div><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1U5IBGu8Aepaj0QM_ZNv21zff5ysjhKGGnsTKeFZ0L3iFowzEt7INpE3g-BXLoRoZS1paO8QKxVfs00G8qHh2H4nCCS_evUlD7nVg7BPSOBQI4gZJlPONwVuR4DhEz2b_zP9Cu8C66k8M/s640/blogger-image--1912717269.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1U5IBGu8Aepaj0QM_ZNv21zff5ysjhKGGnsTKeFZ0L3iFowzEt7INpE3g-BXLoRoZS1paO8QKxVfs00G8qHh2H4nCCS_evUlD7nVg7BPSOBQI4gZJlPONwVuR4DhEz2b_zP9Cu8C66k8M/s640/blogger-image--1912717269.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4Ivb-djBZDfm3F4It8pxpTgtksDvlPEbncI4NANBy5PnZlDGManvYW9XQM8Tyz_7ZQkaL5ned15CZE7pmp6md6oCf1ka9wV0_YZJHiHU5OLN5ueRcwe7m-IjSDzQHJsDfwVigjyhQ5fvt/s640/blogger-image--847939486.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4Ivb-djBZDfm3F4It8pxpTgtksDvlPEbncI4NANBy5PnZlDGManvYW9XQM8Tyz_7ZQkaL5ned15CZE7pmp6md6oCf1ka9wV0_YZJHiHU5OLN5ueRcwe7m-IjSDzQHJsDfwVigjyhQ5fvt/s640/blogger-image--847939486.jpg"></a></div></div><p></p>
<p dir="ltr">A quick drive thru the capital Boise, home of that toe tappin' Senator Larry Craig. We didn't see him, but then again we don't frequent the same joints.<br></p><p dir="ltr"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjESQMvZ8Z6zcGUwggWNCUz6HqtowZ1GC050mIh4i1-oHZfVj4xA4eYXNGMNYS_cUB57uFKKIG8YcAb4NMkCKc2A0NdKduwQj8uisVGvzkUF-L8vG58BUCyhffHClrH3v77CZCyezfhfetK/s640/blogger-image-1492031147.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjESQMvZ8Z6zcGUwggWNCUz6HqtowZ1GC050mIh4i1-oHZfVj4xA4eYXNGMNYS_cUB57uFKKIG8YcAb4NMkCKc2A0NdKduwQj8uisVGvzkUF-L8vG58BUCyhffHClrH3v77CZCyezfhfetK/s640/blogger-image-1492031147.jpg"></a></div><p></p>
<p dir="ltr">Tonight we are cheating by staying in a Best Western in Mountain View, Idaho so John can take a hot shower, and for that I'm grateful. We drove a short section of interstate to get here from Boise, and the speed limit was 80/mph. I got Vanessa up to 122km/hr, faster than John. She performed flawlessly. </p><p dir="ltr">p.s. I've tallied the final cost of Vanessa's makeover, but we will take guesses until we announce the winner the day we roll into Fort Lauderdale.</p>
mark chttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07918301844711569207noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1422613882494783987.post-86741117155051055022014-11-05T18:04:00.001-08:002014-11-06T16:43:22.585-08:00Eastward Ho'sAfter finishing packing up Vanessa this morning we headed out. Our first stop? Eions shop to have him fix the drivers side window that refused to roll up. Eion fixed it in two minutes, we all had a good laugh, and we were on our way again.<div>We headed east on I-90 until Vantage and then Hwy 26 to Pullman, home of Washington State University</div><div>We drove the Palouse Scenic Drive through rolling wheat fields.</div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQmyVHYevRneDH2vtBpv3yGW2_6An3Jk9RDN9IWqWhubP3iUud0ti08129JmVhKCJ5driDMlINCh86vWwqzzhfMR2hhifVAB8RZQBCyBxyg7dOkWM0bdrGr9u5ZUaFkmLOeOdtBepdg_Na/s640/blogger-image--418658122.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQmyVHYevRneDH2vtBpv3yGW2_6An3Jk9RDN9IWqWhubP3iUud0ti08129JmVhKCJ5driDMlINCh86vWwqzzhfMR2hhifVAB8RZQBCyBxyg7dOkWM0bdrGr9u5ZUaFkmLOeOdtBepdg_Na/s640/blogger-image--418658122.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiToZSaqaz1g21ufO-LEP-woI1ft8jXN5ivQ2G-wCIavU5r7W325ODXhlMWY6Fq9eZLffx7W59F4TI3UU8oZW_cYVvkbpikaQJkCZF2TJH4PtbHP4a2x_2VvicBc8U6VqM4ZM746C7SyHgy/s640/blogger-image--2059308020.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiToZSaqaz1g21ufO-LEP-woI1ft8jXN5ivQ2G-wCIavU5r7W325ODXhlMWY6Fq9eZLffx7W59F4TI3UU8oZW_cYVvkbpikaQJkCZF2TJH4PtbHP4a2x_2VvicBc8U6VqM4ZM746C7SyHgy/s640/blogger-image--2059308020.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">We rolled into Pullman around 3:30. Our destination was Goertzen Hall at WSU. It was heart-warming to see the beautiful building named after our late wonderful next door neighbor Kathi. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7jiuZBMwQKKDZkG-n1-Yo51owS78Ya6t0LzTyqoQ2ciEBCJp-Gl5mWilMW5rc0Mse69-GSjKfcUlb9WR4X47zYKWXKAIM7CGRxbTYxFFlhdh96-_SLfHoJNj-R4EUWESKlaW3Rfnp9P8m/s640/blogger-image--741078933.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7jiuZBMwQKKDZkG-n1-Yo51owS78Ya6t0LzTyqoQ2ciEBCJp-Gl5mWilMW5rc0Mse69-GSjKfcUlb9WR4X47zYKWXKAIM7CGRxbTYxFFlhdh96-_SLfHoJNj-R4EUWESKlaW3Rfnp9P8m/s640/blogger-image--741078933.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGXQFnEs-13C3SyizjjswJMs6V-Fadxj7Oi4ugpSVt1tVnW2Fs-EBs_zedKWEeNgZC9WbIN_blvWfhv9zPNjYjaklu0CyIkKOHKIBOyIqHmsXvM8YLIesljqFak-GJAQYH6-D-T0d2XY8q/s640/blogger-image--1203665587.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGXQFnEs-13C3SyizjjswJMs6V-Fadxj7Oi4ugpSVt1tVnW2Fs-EBs_zedKWEeNgZC9WbIN_blvWfhv9zPNjYjaklu0CyIkKOHKIBOyIqHmsXvM8YLIesljqFak-GJAQYH6-D-T0d2XY8q/s640/blogger-image--1203665587.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">As we left WSU the van wouldn't start. Operator error. We had forgotten about the anti-theft kill switch Eion had kindly installed for us. Dumb us. Vanessa started right up as soon as we hit the switch.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Then on to Moscow, Idaho, home of The University of Idaho.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">We are camping tonight at Robinson State Park outside Moscow. We are the only ones here, except for lots of deer. Poppy is in heaven.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2EqOuIKZ-wgfpMaDkarqgXpuyAeJB31lA8u3AG19SEujsP35gW4SbZd6JmcDgpWCnGYmyTBBPFch6hLkWH7t6n7tKDMBnfNjsG-opEOL6oh9n1H4jXcL8m_7gifiWzSR_axZkzRRA7FkK/s640/blogger-image--77208234.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2EqOuIKZ-wgfpMaDkarqgXpuyAeJB31lA8u3AG19SEujsP35gW4SbZd6JmcDgpWCnGYmyTBBPFch6hLkWH7t6n7tKDMBnfNjsG-opEOL6oh9n1H4jXcL8m_7gifiWzSR_axZkzRRA7FkK/s640/blogger-image--77208234.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSdiJy1NPwVW2vH6OQsai7DZBtkRC0eoDwTyMfB1QOzVcgnZMmLC3jj6bF8Q6KHAmW_5_cpUgr0ylJM-ML0DORo1WylsDrdm-fj2aF2TjhFPX_HxEF1gU8QMaT_LwfPsyUhx7oCNo4Juyg/s640/blogger-image--1489225482.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSdiJy1NPwVW2vH6OQsai7DZBtkRC0eoDwTyMfB1QOzVcgnZMmLC3jj6bF8Q6KHAmW_5_cpUgr0ylJM-ML0DORo1WylsDrdm-fj2aF2TjhFPX_HxEF1gU8QMaT_LwfPsyUhx7oCNo4Juyg/s640/blogger-image--1489225482.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Vanessa performed flawlessly today. It was actually difficult to keep her under the speed limit. John is loving the Canadian km/hr speedometer too. He has never done 120/hr before. He's a happy man, and so am I.</div><br></div><br></div><br></div><br></div><br></div><br></div><div><div><br></div></div>mark chttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07918301844711569207noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1422613882494783987.post-22436597800413222002014-11-03T09:24:00.000-08:002014-11-04T21:51:03.790-08:00Meet Vanessa<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
We picked up our "new" van today. She has had a complete makeover. John likes to say she has undergone plastic surgery, but she has had much more radical procedures than just an improved appearance: new 2.5 subaru engine, new transmission, new brakes, new fridge, new suspension, new coolant system. Pretty much the only thing left of the original van is the body. We also have air conditioning and all wheel drive so snow to sand, hot to cold, we are good, we hope!</div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><br></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Here is the van gutted:<br>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgg0982-ORBWMje8G931DKVVwQ_BNRLHkks56THEkjlWF1Ou3mvAYGoNTV-Q2tkmTKNZqlZAiARVullVUiIPEPbKMRbTGcqgrtiNnNAB6cIvQqSguHLDC8TEuXhoDuIgof6hhasZGOl_Jf0/s1600/20141002_140836.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgg0982-ORBWMje8G931DKVVwQ_BNRLHkks56THEkjlWF1Ou3mvAYGoNTV-Q2tkmTKNZqlZAiARVullVUiIPEPbKMRbTGcqgrtiNnNAB6cIvQqSguHLDC8TEuXhoDuIgof6hhasZGOl_Jf0/s1600/20141002_140836.jpg" height="240" width="320"></a></div>
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And here is John standing in the engine compartment:<br>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEga8LpNJEdFgL-kdjOzg3Ocds_7H-9hx_NUVYRFjvoYDFRt2OelhM_MM08_M2og0DHAfHxyK5rrLrWjGmZv8NBmuBmkPq-0c_oqKLuNQ6HmdRTbGRQCLF9YCvjT7V_qQzZ_ygtRDX4Xe_B8/s1600/20141002_135809.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEga8LpNJEdFgL-kdjOzg3Ocds_7H-9hx_NUVYRFjvoYDFRt2OelhM_MM08_M2og0DHAfHxyK5rrLrWjGmZv8NBmuBmkPq-0c_oqKLuNQ6HmdRTbGRQCLF9YCvjT7V_qQzZ_ygtRDX4Xe_B8/s1600/20141002_135809.jpg" height="240" width="320"></a></div>
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In honor of the "new" van, we are renaming her "Vanessa", or as John says "Vanessa the undressa".</div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><br></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">Here are Eion, his wife Kristin, and Carson, the three people who are responsible for Vanna's amazing transformation.</div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><br></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjh72PAC3GndkZHgCBK0tmiZ4AElM-oS47wwZykfhGC82CqpdNeKcuKQpP-XN52-e6AbidtYIrU3Sqnb4y0wmlEQ-9V3zC5LMmG4su3-BPVuk7BGaoAcoyHZY5nTCzXYHuqbh8rNoEq7xfm/s640/blogger-image--1021248929.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjh72PAC3GndkZHgCBK0tmiZ4AElM-oS47wwZykfhGC82CqpdNeKcuKQpP-XN52-e6AbidtYIrU3Sqnb4y0wmlEQ-9V3zC5LMmG4su3-BPVuk7BGaoAcoyHZY5nTCzXYHuqbh8rNoEq7xfm/s640/blogger-image--1021248929.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">John and I can't say enough good things about Eion and his shop. He does amazing work, and he and his wife Kristin are the nicest people. We have complete confidence that we will make it cross-country this time without an issue. </div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Tonight we pack up the van and then tomorrow morning we depart for Fort Lauderdale. Our planned route takes us through Idaho, Nevada, Utah, Colorado, Kansas, Missouri, Illinois, Kentucky, West Virginia, Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Florida. Please email us with suggestions of places to see along the way. <br>
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And there is still time to enter our contest to guess how much this "makeover" cost. Email your guess to markscullen@gmail.com<br>
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mark chttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07918301844711569207noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1422613882494783987.post-8914866050083809672014-09-21T14:41:00.000-07:002014-10-19T11:06:21.450-07:00Vanna is dead. Long live Vanna.<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
John has been an absolute saint about my vanagon obsession, I think partly because he really has enjoyed our cross-country trips. He is wiling to do it again this fall, but his one request is that we find a van with AC since Vanna gets hot and road noise can be deafening at times with the windows down.<br />
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So I started looking for a new, improved Vanna. And since we were going for an upgrade, why not get one with "syncro" too? (Syncro is the AWD technology the clever VW engineers devised for vanagons. The technology eventually found itself in Audis too.)</div>
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But VW made very few full camper syncro Westfalias and even fewer with AC. They are rare and expensive. But Tom Hanks and Jimmy Buffett own a syncro so I had to have one too. Click on the these links to learn about syncros:<br />
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<a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2003/07/18/travel/driving-drawn-to-a-1980-s-camper-with-the-soul-of-an-suv.html" style="background-color: white;" target="_blank"><span style="color: magenta;">NY TIMES: Drawn to a 1980's Camper With the Soul of an S.U.V.</span></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JX1iiqgkILQ" target="_blank"><span style="color: magenta;">YouTube: God is a syncro</span></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vT8dO5xXrz4" target="_blank"><span style="color: magenta;">VW syncro promotional video</span></a><br />
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I found several syncros without AC as far away as Colorado and Alaska but I finally located one in Langley, BC with AC. It was for sale for the bargain price of $25,000 (US, not Canadian) and it had over 500,000 km on the odometer. (It doesn't sound quite so bad when you convert km to miles, but that's still over 300,000 miles on the chassis.) My insanity over Westys clouded my judgement so I called and bought it on the spot, sight unseen.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjX-dHdZ1pHnmHp-_6G011YuVulM4CXTdt14pbGaqKkGu3p42290e2AwFU47wIuITRn7Q7ghZcASrnLOMgMqjat5UyKYA4S4gsGR0nZ6mbR1KZIvMt6jOfyc1fkf2Pj9XdTJcuFWVgtXtif/s1600/20140811_091905.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjX-dHdZ1pHnmHp-_6G011YuVulM4CXTdt14pbGaqKkGu3p42290e2AwFU47wIuITRn7Q7ghZcASrnLOMgMqjat5UyKYA4S4gsGR0nZ6mbR1KZIvMt6jOfyc1fkf2Pj9XdTJcuFWVgtXtif/s1600/20140811_091905.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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Several weeks later John and I drove up to BC with cashiers check in hand. (That John is a saint, did I mention that?) I had fully researched the requirements when importing a vehicle from Canada to the US and had made arrangements to file paperwork with the customs office in Seattle to make new Vanna legal. Unfortunately, the US border crossing agent at the Canadian border was less well versed in the rules than I was. Three hours spent in the border crossing station but I was finally allowed to drive on. And after filing the paperwork and paying duty, new Vanna is now a US citizen.<br />
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She is now at Eion's Automotive in Seattle undergoing a full makeover: brand new Subaru engine, rebuilt transmission, rebuilt syncro coupling, rebuilt differential, new brakes, new LED lighting, truck fridge. Everything that could possibly break down on our trip is being replaced. Everything. Except the drivers. <br />
Here is the brand new 2.5 Subaru engine all wrapped and crated:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYcb37KWSTai1C8NCuwAXkF4xy5yBHw1mZlfwwP-UsH9tOx_2CxYFi-erYpaBMBtWCvdnzoJLINyl2csUWj1XwzZWzzLkNvmqRhLFI8qbV0hjWU3TT_oTpUhmI5RgYzgRplvKIeUOfagUR/s1600/20140916_133852.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYcb37KWSTai1C8NCuwAXkF4xy5yBHw1mZlfwwP-UsH9tOx_2CxYFi-erYpaBMBtWCvdnzoJLINyl2csUWj1XwzZWzzLkNvmqRhLFI8qbV0hjWU3TT_oTpUhmI5RgYzgRplvKIeUOfagUR/s1600/20140916_133852.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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And here is the eponymous Eion making the first of many raids on my wallet:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizIWtP1ROA5akP_7lhaTkaIcLoEt3XythVRT7tVgTZTESDQJOoSc7kyrwP_H8QdLMDYGXk1TTZHyJ3eLz-9dlYgiHfxFCcMXHKxEgpOfuyANN51o6y-GhcJ1XOrSaHMAC4jyAoAtJstoFc/s1600/photo+4.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizIWtP1ROA5akP_7lhaTkaIcLoEt3XythVRT7tVgTZTESDQJOoSc7kyrwP_H8QdLMDYGXk1TTZHyJ3eLz-9dlYgiHfxFCcMXHKxEgpOfuyANN51o6y-GhcJ1XOrSaHMAC4jyAoAtJstoFc/s1600/photo+4.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
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But seriously, Eion is incredibly knowledgeable and a true master mechanic. And he's a great guy, too. John and I can't recommend him and his shop highly enough.</div>
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And now a contest: the person who comes closest to guessing how much Vanna's total makeover costs-without running over- will win a fabulous prize. Submit your guess in the comments section or email me your guess. Good luck! <br />
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And here's the prize: your very own Vanna! (or whatever name you give her)<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8IO-ZM6Kyt8WZ-G2aR0iBZJjqd4MGCJSBclq-QtwW0JRcd1bw5cr4KB8Z_wc-aGH8fI32H3o8378P9BIaj8EfJUIYz0A32xWs9ZVVa9X-2ZofTJbtLiKhQBNbiQVdF_XHkxgJ2ql3_27T/s1600/20141006_131953.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8IO-ZM6Kyt8WZ-G2aR0iBZJjqd4MGCJSBclq-QtwW0JRcd1bw5cr4KB8Z_wc-aGH8fI32H3o8378P9BIaj8EfJUIYz0A32xWs9ZVVa9X-2ZofTJbtLiKhQBNbiQVdF_XHkxgJ2ql3_27T/s1600/20141006_131953.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
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p.s. We sold old Vanna to a lovely neighbor three doors down, and she couldn't be happier. I think my Westy insanity is infectious.</div>
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mark chttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07918301844711569207noreply@blogger.com0