50% Humidity and NOT a Dry Heat

Hello family and friends. Now in Effingham, IL...100 miles east of St. Louis. Very hot, humid and steamy. Campground tonight is next to a small lake - nice, with lots of very tall trees and probably clouds of mosquitoes. We have the air on. Got through St. Louis - missed the 'metro by-pass' and ended up right downtown going 17,000 MPH with trucks on either side through construction zones. Judy did catch the arch as I was earning my handle (White Knuckles). That big gulp from Circle K tasted real good after that ride. Tomorrow my old stomping grounds in Ohio and New York the day after. We will be seeing Niagra Falls since it will be just 20 miles out of the way. Oh yea, tomorrow is MOTEL NIGHT,

Day 4, the March Through Oklahoma

Good evening from Joplin, Missouri! Had an uneventful day, which is a good thing. Very hot and humid here but no tornados. Negotiated both OK City and Tulsa; earned my nickname of White Knuckles today! We have finally left the desert behind and are now in the land of trees. Had Subway for dinner and swam in the KOA pool for a while. Will now have fried cherry pie with vanilla ice cream for dessert. Don't ask, it's some local treat. The picture I'm attaching tonight is of a large (1.5 inch) beetle bug that got sucked into the bus and landed on my feet. I did some major stomping, got off the interstate and pitched him out. Thanks Kev for the idea to photograph roadkill. Enjoy.

Days 2 and 3

Hello everyone! Sorry I didn't write yesterday  but no access. Finally got to Albuquerque without any other incident, bought 4 new tires (not gonna go through this again), ate pasta and green chile, drank Margaritas and then hit the road today. No other incidents today; now in Shamrock, Texas. Other picture on this day is the Route 66 diner in Santa Rosa, NM. Hot here in Shamrock; have the AC on and watching the Lincoln Lawyer. Headed through Oklahoma tomorrow to Joplin, MO. Saw the largest cross in the Western hemisphere, the Cadilac Ranch and the Big Texan steakhouse - home of the 72 oz steak. Yikes. Later..............MB

Day 1

Day one...not as exciting as the first day of the shake down cruise, but definately more exciting than I had planned. I was making great time, singing to the oldies, even thinking of driving on into Albuquerque and not stopping in Socorro when, BAM...one of the back tires blew. What is this? What's with this RV and tires? I guess the shiester really was one. Anyway, another 2 hours sitting on interstate 25 just south of Truth and Consequences, New Mexico waiting on the road service to bring a new tire. Plan for tomorrow - get 3 more new tires (bus has 6 in all, 4 in back and 2 in front; the left front tire blew on the shake down cruise) when I get to Albuquerque. So, I'm safe in Motel 6 with my chardonney, my laptop and a hot shower. What more could I ask for? Probably to have Denney's (right next door) include a fork with the salad I ordered take out. Good night for now. Hopefully tomorrow will not include a blown tire. MB

T minus 1, Getting Ready

Hello everyone. Decided to create a blog to capture my mother of all roadtrips, from Tucson, Arizona to Dartmouth, Nova Scotia. I retired May 31 after 24 years with the VA (most of you know this). I then bought a 26' class C motorhome with plans to drive to Nova Scotia to visit my youngest son, Kevin, and his family. This blog will allow me to share the journey with family and friends. I think I have figured out how to upload pictures, which will also be included. I leave town day after tomorrow. Sure wish these butterflies would go away. More later.