June 8th in Southwest Florida. With temperature and humidity on the rise, and rainy season about to begin, it's time to hitch up the Shuttlecraft and get out of Dodge. Will this year's RV travels be as bumpy as in past years, or have we finally paid enough dues (literally, as well as figuratively) to have at last earned a season of smooth sailing? Let's find out...
We'd be heading to Janet's bagpipe camp in Valle Crucis, North Carolina, so we decided to start our trip by go up the east coast of Florida. We went to Juno Beach and then Flagler Beach. After leaving Florida, we proceeded to Jekyll Island, Georgia (birthplace of the U.S. Federal Reserve), where we enjoyed bike riding along the island's extensive paths. After that, it was on to one of our favorite towns, Savannah, Georgia. We camped at Skidaway Island State Park, a 20-minute drive from the heart of downtown.
Kiko enjoying his first visit to Forsyth Park in downtown Savannah
Next was an exciting return to Wilmington, North Carolina, where I lived before I moved to Fort Myers. It was great visiting friends and going back to my old stomping grounds.
Easily the high point of our 2017 RV adventures was our visit to Pikes Peak. We took the Cog Railway to the summit, which was a great way to go.
The trip begins at the station in Manitou Springs, Colorado. Manitou Springs, which is just outside Colorado Springs, is a small town nestled at the base of Pikes Pike, at an altitude of 6,412 feet. The trip to the summit is along 9 miles of track that ascends 7,703 feet. The train moves along at a leisurely pace, with a maximum speed of 9 mph. The scenic ride takes 1 hour and 20 minutes. We picked an ideal day to go – the weather at the summit was sunny, mild, and not windy, with great visibility.
View from the front car
Rocky Mountain High
Plenty of ammo for a snowball fight on May 31st.
I thought it would be really cold in the thin air at 14,115 feet. It felt as if the temperature was in the low 40s. Imagine my surprise when we found out it was actually 22°! The views from the summit were even more breathtaking than the high altitude. (Click on the following panoramic scenes to view them full screen.)
On a clear day, you really can see forever!
A few days later, we camped in Golden, Colorado (home of Coors beer). We ventured into Denver via a nearby quick, inexpensive light-rail line. There we took in a tour of the United States Mint.
Standing outside one of the few federal government
operations that actually makes cents!
The tour was quite interesting. Security was very tight, and taking photos inside was prohibited. Regarding the tour, I noted a couple of missed opportunities:
> They should have sold breath fresheners in the gift shop, called "Denver Mints".
> They should have offered Mint Juleps for the adults to drink after the tour.
My suggestion for the Mint's new motto: "Change endures" (I can see it now: The Mint's logo with the Latin inscription, "Mutatio Eduro".)
As it happens, the new Ozark Riverways quarters for Missouri were just released the day before our visit. The tour guide mentioned this fact, and said the best deal in the gift shop was in the change machine by the door. The machine was loaded with the fresh, newly-minted quarters, so one could buy four of those shiny babies, previously untouched by human hands, for $1. (How about that, you numismatists?) After touring the Mint, we satisfied our penchant for quirky museums with a visit to the Denver Fire Department Museum. The museum is located in Denver's first fire station, which was built in 1909.
We found the museum's exhibits to be quite interesting and informative. We even got a bonus private tour by a retired Denver firefighter.
A beautifully-restored 1953 fire engine
One of the more alarming exhibits
After a fine day in Denver, we returned to our campground with fresh money in our pockets, and our burning curiosity extinguished.
Although I missed the Kentucky Derby by two weeks, it was still great to visit Churchill Downs, that monument to the sport of kings, in Louisville, Kentucky. With the crowds gone, Janet and I practically had the place to ourselves! I bet on four races, including a daily double. (I can't believe inflation hasn't hit the betting window: A bet is still $2, just as it was when I was a kid.)
Did any of my horses finish in the money? Are you kidding? I'm a handicapped handicapper.
As they head for the finish line... my horse is out of the running!
I felt my wallet gettin' thinner, time to pick a winner.
A trip to Louisville would not be complete without a tour of the Hillerich & Bardsby bat factory, home of the Louisville Slugger.
Before taking the tour, I got to swing Mickey Mantle's bat.
I wonder if Charlie is a relative. (I know they
named a long-life battery after Al Kaline.)
Towards the end of May, we were headed for Colorado Springs, but with all of the campgrounds in and around that area fully booked for the Memorial Day weekend, we stayed in Dodge City, Kansas.
No self-respectin' RVer would stay anywhere else in Dodge City.
Shootout at the Boot Hill museum.
Although I didn't see Miss Kitty, I must confess that before I went to the Boot Hill museum, I thought Bat Masterson was a fictional character! [As a side note, here's a missed opportunity: The Dodge auto dealership in Dodge City is Lopp Motors. Wouldn't "Dodge City Dodge" be a better name?]
Come Memorial Day Monday morning, it was (you guessed it) time to get out of Dodge. As we headed to Colorado Springs, the truck began misbehaving. Ascending hills, it was "cough, wheeze, sputter." Fortunately, we made it to the RV park in Colorado Springs. The next day, I was able to find a diesel service shop that wasn't too far away. Diagnosis: A failing high pressure fuel pump. The repair, which took ten and one-half hours, involved separating the cab from the chassis, and lifting the cab to get at the pump. After waiting a couple of days and paying a $3,200 ransom (OUCH), we were able to resume our travels. (So much for paying my high-dollar dues before embarking on what I hoped would be a trouble-free summer!) If only I had hit that long shot at Churchill Downs...
O.K., I got lazy and didn't write any season 4 episodes for Going Mobile. I will tell you this: We traveled 8,600 miles over three months in 2016, and (wait for it...) – NOTHING WENT WRONG WITH EITHER THE TRUCK OR THE SHUTTLECRAFT RV! I know, it's unbelievable. So let's skip right to season 5, the year Going Mobile goes international!
Naturally, there were dues to be paid before embarking on 2017's adventures. Last fall, after our return, the truck needed $1,500 of work. A couple of weeks ago, it demanded an additional $1,700 of remedial pre-launch service.
The Shuttlecraft needed work too. The awning canvas started coming apart last year and needed to be replaced. During pre-launch checkout, I discovered the roof had deterioration issues, the air conditioner failed, and the kitchen faucet turned into a geyser. After coughing up an additional $1,600, The Shuttlecraft was shipshape. (Looking at the bright side, I'd rather pay in advance than break down on the road. Here's hoping for two trouble-free years of traveling in a row. If you want to save lots of money, stay away from boats and RVs!)
Launch went successfully at 0700 on Saturday, May 13.
The Shuttlecraft undergoing final preparation in North Fort Myers, Florida
Today is May 15, and we're in Chattanooga, Tennessee. Chew, chew on that fact. Last night, our very nice waitress at the local Cracker Barrel recommended that we check out the Walnut Street pedestrian bridge. The bridge, which spans the Tennessee River, opened in 1890. It was closed in 1978 and sat in disrepair for nearly a decade. Repairs and structural modifications were then made to turn the bridge into a pedestrian walkway. Janet and I enjoyed our walk over the bridge on this, a sunny, warm morning.
Reflection of the Walnut Street Bridge on the murky water of the Tennessee River
Look carefully, and you'll see me standing on the bridge!
If you've been following Going Mobile, you may recall that Janet and I have a penchant for offbeat, quirky museums. We hit the mother lode in Chattanooga, with the International Towing and Recovery Museum and Hall of Fame! It turns out, the tow truck was invented by Chattanooga's own Ernest Holmes, Sr. in 1916. Holmes figured it would be easier to bring disabled vehicles to his shop for repairs than it would be to make repairs at the site of a breakdown or wreck. Who knew? (If this is ever on Jeopardy, I'll be ready!)
The museum houses numerous vintage tow trucks and related equipment, and yes, a towing hall of fame! (I would never be qualified to join this august group. After an accident, I'd be a nervous wreck. If I ever break my hallux, I'll call a toe truck.)
Replica of Holmes' first tow truck
The best golf cart I've ever seen was in the museum.
Hey you folks in The Villages, eat your hearts out!
Well, I'd love to continue this chat, but it's time to catch a train back to The Shuttlecraft; track 29.
After the Balloon Fiesta, we had several adventures on our way back to southwest Florida.
For something quirky, it's hard to beat the International UFO Museum and Research Center in Roswell, New Mexico. The museum's exhibits make a compelling case that a UFO really crashed there in 1947 – an incident that was kept from public knowledge by a massive government cover-up. The truth is out there!
Enjoying a family reunion at the UFO Museum
We also visited the Carlsbad Caverns in southeastern New Mexico. We spent several hours walking through the caverns, and found ourselves in a state of almost constant amazement. It is eerily quiet, cool and damp down there. The deep caverns would be totally dark if it weren't for subdued artificial lighting. Photographs can't begin to capture the sights and ambiance. (None of the photos we took came out well enough to post here.) If you enjoy being in awe of natural wonders, be sure to check out the Carlsbad Caverns.
Another highlight of our return trip was a visit to our namesake city, Keller, Texas. Keller, about 30 miles west-northwest of Dallas, was named after railroad man John C. Keller in the mid-1800s. (John was my great-great grandfather, or so the story goes.) The lucky residents of Keller were the first folks in the nation to get high-speed internet via fiber optic cable to the home back in 2004.
No visit to the Dallas metro area would be complete without a trip to the International Bowling Museum & Hall of Fame in nearby Arlington, Texas. Located across the road from the Six Flags Over Texas amusement park, the museum is a testament to the adage "If you build it, they will come."
Virtually every sport has a hall of fame!
And speaking of Big D, don't bother with the official tour of the Texas School Book Depository and its Sixth Floor Museum. If your historical tastes go beyond Camelot and the Warren Commission, the real action is a more interesting, unofficial, much-more-believable ad hoc tour of Dealey Plaza, offered by colorful locals.
Here we are on the grassy knoll!
From Texas, we headed south to the Gulf coast. We spent a few days in the Big Easy so we could enjoy some of the things we missed when we were there two years ago. The National World War II Museum in Nawlins was phenomenal. If you go, give yourself at least a whole day to see it.
After 8,050 miles on the road, we returned to our home base at the Seminole Campground, in North Fort Myers, Florida on the third of November.
It's hard to believe, but as I write this, our 2016 RV Adventures will begin in less than two weeks! Stay tuned.
The highlight of our 2015 travel season was the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta, which took place from October 3 through 11. It was the only part of our trip that was set in advance.
The topography and atmospheric conditions in and around the area make Albuquerque an ideal location for hot air ballooning. In 2015, the 44th year of the event, the Albuquerque Balloon Fiesta featured over 550 balloons from 44 states and 17 countries, and was attended by 956,000 people. It is the largest balloon convention in the world, and is said to be the most photographed event in the world. The most photographed event in the world? Yes, I can believe that boast easily. Thanks to digital photography, one can take a virtually unlimited number of photos, and the incremental cost of taking another photo is zero. Everyone at the fiesta had at least one camera (either standalone or built into a phone). During the event, Janet and I took a zillion photos. Assuming all attendees were as snap-happy as we were (a fair assumption, based on what we observed), that would account for approximately half-a-billion photographs!
A great way to experience the Balloon Fiesta is by being in an RV Rally. (During a rally, participants meet and stay in a specific location for a period of time to enjoy a particular event.) The Balloon Fiesta rally we attended was put on by Fantasy RV Tours. Included in the (reasonable) cost of the rally were a reserved, prime RV space adjacent to the balloon field, admission to all balloon-related events, shuttle buses to and from the balloon field that bypassed all of the heavy traffic, coffee and doughnuts every morning, interesting tours (by bus) after the morning balloon events on four different days, and dinner with entertainment on three nights. All we had to do was to show up and have a great time!
We arrived in Albuquerque on October 1 for the start of the rally, which was two days before the beginning of the Balloon Fiesta. The early arrival gave everyone a chance to get set up and oriented before the big event. We went to the International Balloon Museum, which showcases the history and sport of ballooning. Housed in a huge building next to the balloon field, the museum was fascinating.
On October 2, Janet got to check off one of her "bucket list" items: A hot air balloon ride. Here is a high-definition video I made of the event, which began at the fiesta balloon field. (The video plays from YouTube, so for best viewing, be sure to set it to play at 1080p or 720p if you can, and watch it full screen. Crank up the sound too!)
Janet took this aerial view of the RV parking area adjacent to the balloon field.
Janet took this photo from the balloon, about 2,000 feet above the ground.
Back on terra firma after 90 minutes in the air
Balloon flying started at 5:45 a.m. each day of the fiesta with "dawn patrol". The purpose of this pre-sunrise activity, in which just a few balloons are aloft, is to determine if required weather conditions are met, and to scope out the wind speed and direction at various altitudes. (For safe ballooning, surface winds at the balloon field must be no higher than 10 knots, visibility must be at least 3 miles, and any cloud ceiling must be at least 1,500 feet above ground level. Wind speed and direction information helps balloonists plan their rides and estimate where their chase vehicles will need to be located for pick-up at the end of the ride. Sometimes the wind shifts mid-morning, and all bets are off!) Absent frontal passages or storms, wind conditions will usually persist until about 10 a.m., after which the air usually becomes too turbulent for safe hot air ballooning. The weather was suitable for ballooning every day of the 2015 Fiesta. The last time that occurred was in 1996. Lucky us!
Balloon in flight getting a burst of hot air during dawn patrol
After dawn patrol comes a "mass ascension", during which balloons take off one after another, so that nearly all the balloons are aloft at the same time! This controlled chaos results in over 500 balloons being airborne at once – an awesome sight to behold. Here is a high-definition video I took of a mass ascension. For effect, the video is sped up at 20 seconds, even faster at 30 seconds, and even faster at 40 seconds. (Set it to play at 1080p or 720p if you can, and watch it full screen.)
And some photos too...
The experience of seeing so many balloons is hard to capture in photographs. Here are lots of shots to give you an idea of what it was like. You can click on any photo to go to a full-screen view. Once in that mode, you can see any photo by clicking on its thumbnail shown at the bottom of the screen, or you can press the forward and back arrows on your keyboard to go ahead or back from photo to photo. To exit the full-screen view, either click the X in the upper right, or press the Esc key on your keyboard.
Hmm.. perhaps I should buy a house!
While the variety of balloon designs and colors was staggering, the special shapes balloons were beyond amazing. There were 105 special shapes balloons at the fiesta; one of them was 178 feet tall!
Mass ascension of special shapes balloons
The force of hot air is strong with this one
A big, wide balloon it is
The pig was bitten by a radioactive spider!
If only the dog would have peed on the fire hydrant!
Alas, what goes up must eventually come down. On two of the mornings, the wind was such that many of the balloons came down near or between the RVs!
Even the dark side of the force couldn't keep Darth Vader in the air forever. Here he is, returning to earth. (Set the video to play at 720p if you can, and watch it full screen.)
To top off all of the high-flying activities, we took a ride on the Sandia Peak Tramway, which is about nine miles east of the balloon field. The tramway ascends the steep western side of the highest point of the Sandia Mountains. It is the longest aerial tram in the United States (3,819 feet, from a base elevation of 6,559 feet to a top elevation of 10,378 feet). A trip up (or down) the mountain takes about 15 minutes. We passed through a solid layer of clouds on the way up, and when we got to the top, the cloud layer was below us. After we had a fancy lunch in a mountaintop restaurant, the clouds dissipated and we were treated to quite a view. (See this panorama full screen by clicking on it.)
Q: What causes the sport of ballooning to get more expensive every year?
A: Inflation.
Q: What is the final installment on a 5-year interest-only loan for a hot air rig called?
A: The balloon payment.
