We left John Prince Park Campground on May 9,2022 and headed for
Paynes Prairie Preserve State Park in Micanopy, Fl. This is
one of our favorite Florida Parks where we usually see wildlife:
Deer, Wild horses, Bison, Alligators and wading birds. Unfortunately
all we saw on this trip were Alligators, a Big Blue Heron, While we
did see deer as they were so far away I couldn't get a decent photo.
When we first started going to Paynes Prairie and staying in
the park's Puc Puggy campground the entire preserved was much
dryer.Over the last few years however the park has been quite wet
often limiting the range and distance of our walks as well as
interfering with our ability to see wildlife.
Many years ago in a previous century the entire area was under water
and a large lake allowed for boat traffic.
We stayed in Paynes Prairie for two nights and then went to High
Falls State Park in Jackson, Georgia for one night. Interestingly
enough I recognized the park and think we staid there in 2008 when
we we were on our way to Missouri to pick up our at the time new
Spacecraft trailer. Now we are again on the way to Missouri to get a
new microwave new batteries and have some other repairs done on our
14 year old Spacecraft trailer. The microwave died last summer.
While the batteries were still functioning after 14 years I
thought it prudent to be proactive and replace them where and when
it was convenient. Unfortunately back-orders and supply chain issues
required a downsizing from 600 amp hours to 500 amp hours. However
we replaced the solar panels with newer higher rated panels so all
in all it's hopefully a wash.
On May 12th we left High Falls and went to Manchester, Tn and a KOA
where we had staid in 2019 on our way to Spacecraft for a new
refrigerator. Driving down the road in a trailer shortens the life
of every piece of equipment. Even though they are made for RV's you
don't get the same life as you do in a stick house or apartment.
Last time in Manchester we discovered a very pleasant Green way
where we went to walk after setting up.
From there on the 13th we went to the Benton, IL KOA another place
we had previous staid at. Near the campground is the Rend Lake
Reservoir a Corp of Engineers project with a nice wooded walking
path . Some day maybe we will even camp in the COE Campground . The
Corp usually has nice campgrounds which are more reasonable then
private campgrounds and we have staid in several over the years.
Unfortunately when we are in travel mode heading somewhere specific
with time constraints I like to stay near the highway. After our
walk we drove to the next town and Kroger for some groceries and
gas. After getting gas the truck wouldn't start something told me I
had a battery issue so I opened the hood and jiggled the cables on
one of the batteries . While they were not loose the problem
corrected itself and we went on our way. Although the other battery
did have a loose cable which caused an issue further down the road.
In 2019 when we made this same trip we went from Benton to Concordia
and the Spacecraft factory directly. However I planned differently
this time and stopped in St Charles Missouri at the
Sundermeier Campground. We had staid there on numerous occasions.
The campground is on the Missouri Katy Rail Trail. This trail runs
almost the entire length of the State and we have walked several
segments. St Charles was also the staging are for the Lewis and
Clark expedition. There is a visitors Center which we visited on a
previous trip. This time we just walked in fact we walked upon
arrival and we walked in the other direction the following morning
prior to going to the factory in Concordia.
After Our Morning walk on the Katy Trail at Sundermeier we drove to
The Spacecraft Factory in Concordia, MO. It being Sunday the factory
is closed but there are spaces in front of the building and 50 Amp
Service on it's walls. The picture is from a previous visit
prior our new paint job in 2017. That's us on the left of the
door.
On Monday May 15th bright and early they started work on our
trailer. Debby and I went to the Blue Springs First Watch for
breakfast and then walked in the Burr Oak Woods Conservation Area on
the Bethany Falls Trail but didn't see any falls.
Blue Springs is about 40 miles from Concordia none the less
we went back on Tuesday and again walked in another part of the Burr
Oak Woods and went to First Watch for Breakfast. After that we
continued another 10 miles west and went to the Independence Mo
Costco.
By Wednesday the rig was finished but I remembered the Generator
hadn't been serviced in awhile so that delayed us for another day.
As it turned out leaving on Thursday was better then leaving on
Wednesday because had we left Wednesday we would have been on I 80 a
day earlier when I 80 was closed in Eastern Wyoming just where we
would have been on Friday had we left Wednesday. The next day on
Saturday it was open dry with clear but cold sky's.
So on Thursday we drove to the Camp a Way campground in Lincoln
Nebraska . There was a nice park nearby mostly for Frisbee golf but
we were able to walk anyway. After our walk we went to a nearby
Culver's for cheese curds and custard. the next day we drove
to Ogalala, Nebraska and in keeping with the fact that I 80 was
closed by snow past there it had turned windy and cold. We couldn't
find anywhere to walk so we just got fuel and turned in.
On Saturday 5/21 the road was open and we went to Laramie, WY.
I had always want to go to Laramie for the Western history
unfortunately it never worked out and now with Covid we don't do
that kind of truism. None the less we still walk out doors. We went
to the green way and started walking only to find the path flooded
from the overflowing river so we turned around and returned to the
car.
I had read about the territorial prison but had visited
the territorial prison in Yuma, AZ and didn't want to go into
a building. On our way to the green way however we passed the
prison. It was closed but seemed to be a series of wooden buildings
and not a structure like the one in Yuma, AZ . If we come back this
way I will check it out. From the green way we went to Safeway
bought groceries and fuel. Remember it was Saturday so we were
surprised to see a Chusid on the streets of Laramie on our return to
the campground. There are Jews and Hasidim in Wyoming just not in
Laramie unless he is connected to the college.
On Sunday May 22nd we drove to the KOA in Rock Springs for a
two day stay. On our arrival we went to and walked on the Green
River Greenway this time our walk was cut short by construction. We
did get to walk some but the boardwalk and trail are under repair
even though you cant see it on the picture.
I had heard there were wild horses and bison in Rock Springs.
There were and there weren't . We saw wild horses in the BLM coral
waiting for auction
but declined to ride the dirt road where we
could have seen them and other wildlife in the wild.
We did drive the 160 mile Flaming Gorge
Scenic Byway into Utah along the Green River and back to Rock
Springs however.
During the ride we tried walking at one spot but the path was
flooded and did walk in another and upon our return through Green
River we walked on the other part of the green way but we got to the
end or beginning to quickly. We returned to Rock Springs went for
Groceries and fuel and returned to the campground.
On Tuesday May 5/24 we left Wyoming and entered Utah. We walked a
small but steep hill in the rest stop and then continued on to
Tremonton, UT for a two day stay and visit to the Golden Spike
National Historic Park.
Upon arrival in the very nice campground with all concrete slabs and
complete hook ups for some reason they put us next to the dog park
although we have no pets. I got to pass one of my test
for continuing this life style. One of my 40 LB propane bottles was
empty, I had it filled and I lifted it it back in to the
trailer. The other test I pass every time I we hook up. If I
couldn't lift the bottle or line up the trailer we wouldn't be able
to continue this life. After setting up we walked in town on the
sidewalk and passed two Golden Spike Murals.
The next day we drove to the park which was in the middle of
nowhere. the Golden Spike is where the train tracks coming from the
East met those coming from the West for the completion of the
transcontinental railroad. The area where they met had no water so
the tracks were eventually moved so that a station could be placed
where there was water. While we were there a Ranger presentation had
the Union Pacific engine from the East, originally made in Patterson
,NJ next to near where we used to live in Fair Lawn meet the Central
Pacific engine from the West originally made in Schenectady NY. Both
engines however are reproductions as the originals wore out in
service and were scraped. After the presentation we drove on
the Eastern Spur the Western spur was closed and then walked on what
is called the Big Fill. Fill was brought into the area so the trains
could travel on solid ground instead of a trestle which they did use
for awhile. One observer marveled that the trestle didn't collapse.
The path was a loop but it required us to climb over rocks
without being able to see where it resumed on level ground so
we turned and went back the way we came. After our walk we returned
to the campground getting fuel along the way.
On the 25th we went to Caldwell, ID just past Boise. We walked
on the Caldwell Green way Pathway in Whittenberger
Park, alongside and over the Boise River got gas and retired for
the night.
The next day, the Friday before the Memorial Day week
end we drove on I84 to Oregon. At about exit 3 in Idaho i was
passing somebody on an incline and the truck had no pickup.
When I got into Oregon and started driving on Highway 20 not an
interstate but a decent road I noticed the check engine light was on
on. There were two large hills or mountains we had to climb and the
truck dropped to 37 Miles per hour, Not it's usual climbing
speed. Upon arrival at the campground I called the local Ram
dealer and was told there were no appointments before the 20th
however I could bring it in and they would try and find the time to
look at it before then. I then called Enterprise and reserved
a car for Tuesday.
We visited our granddaughter and spent the next few days walking on
the various parts of the Deschutes river trail. On Tuesday we
brought the truck to the Ram Dealer and walked about 2.5 miles to
Enterprise. Lithia Chrysler, Dodge, Ram determined that the
Turbos needed replacement and they are in the process of obtaining
approval from Chrysler for my extended warranty and then they will
order parts and repair the truck. The nice people at Scandia
RV Park have arraigned for us to stay past our June 6 departure date
even though we will need someone to move us to another site.
In the meantime we are visiting our granddaughter and walking on the
many trails here in Bend, Or. Stay tuned there is more to come
