Edmonton, AB

On a rainy cold early morning the last week of April, we drove north to Forest City to pick-up an Itasca Ellipse motor home to deliver to Edmonton. It is definitely a home on wheels. A Freightliner chassis, diesel pusher with a 150 gal fuel tank! Yes, it took us nearly $500 to fill! 43’ long, 101” wide, 13” high with both entire sides able to slide out! Complete with dishwasher, washer & dryer, central vac, fireplace, big flat screen TV, 2 bathrooms, an outside entertainment unit, and an inside infotainment unit with GPS! It looks like a home inside with the silver/green color scheme and glazed cherry cabinets. The wood trim on ceilings imitated the look of exposed beams.

Rain, wind and water sitting in fields, ditches and median. Lakes are bank full. Rivers are flooding. Thru Minneapolis to I-94 west. Small towns, large farms, dairies, partial stacks of bales, grain elevators, dot the drenched landscape that is trying to transition from winter to spring!

Into North Dakota staying at Fargo at a Petro Truck stop for the night! The odometer is in km so we dig out our metric measurements knowing we will need them for fuel prices and to read signs once we cross the border. (Yes, grandkids, learning math is important!)

We are greeted with a partly cloudy blue sky and no rain. Driving through the Red River Valley, which is flooding, we see acres of flat farm ground with small towns and grain elevators. Some of the ponds are still covered with ice. This is also “pot-hole” country with many small land depression in fields filled with water. Lines of trees planted as windbreaks still have snow banks at their trunks looking like they are still “tucked” in their snow quilt for the winter!

We left the interstate to take US#52 to the border crossing at Portal. The two-lane highway makes a red diagonal line across the center of the North Dakota State map. We meet and pass many over-sized loads of various kinds of equipment. Some are being imported or exported to Canada. Some are just moving local farmers equipment. One of the largest was a truck carrying two 27’ bases for grain bins!

View from the windshield:

· The highway runs parallel to a Rail Road track. A crew was working on the tracks. As we drove north trains were backed up waiting.

· Every 10 or 15 miles is a small town with a grain elevator surrounded by acres of farmland.

· The flooding caused water on the edges of the road in a few places. We saw a boat sitting beside a flooded gravel road, a house on an island with a bright blue port-potty in front and sand bags around buildings.

· Grass covered hills still brown from winter with “dollops” of white snowbanks scattered on north facing slopes.

· Cattle grazing with small calves at their sides.

· Very interesting names of towns: Fessenden, Velva, Carpio, Pingree, Voltaire and Adamore. Many had signs indicating a local museum. Would be fun to have time to stop and visit each.

· For miles we drove through grassy hills with white stones on the slopes outlining the numbers of the year of graduating seniors! A project that would take a lot of time and effort since the hills were isolated from roads and the rocks would have to be collected! Do we call it “green graffiti?”

· Grasshopper shaped oil wells. Shiny new ones. Drilling rigs. Hopefully help with reducing our gas prices???

Saskatchewan, Canada

This province of Canada is mainly associated with the prairies and grain growing, but the terrain is far from flat and barren. It also has a rich reserve of heavy oil and over half the world’s known recoverable reserves of potash along with uranium mining, pulp and paper production, commercial fishing and trapping, manufacturing and construction industry. Again we drove many miles of two-lane provincial highways before getting to the trans-Canada auto route, another red diagonal line on the atlas map!

Through the windshield:

· Oil wells & drilling. Pipes being laid. Miles of oil rig and mining equipment sales and rental business.

· Large cranes working on the horizon behind huge piles of sand. An open pit Potash mine. (We would have received train loads and truck loads of this potash when working at the retail fertilizer outlets here in Iowa) Acres and acres with piles in rows of left-over sand from the mines. The older ones are grass covered low hills.

· Then flat acres of farm ground with small towns dotted every so many miles. Each has a grain elevator next to the Rail Road track. Some large seed companies with their bins and legs. The farmers have rows of small grain bins instead of the large ones we see here in Iowa. We think this is because they grow seed and have to keep each variety separate.

· Instead of a sign stating “Historical Marker” they have signs: “Point of Interest!”

· The roads are rough.

· Water everywhere there is a low spot because of the snow melt.

· Through another rain storm. We seem to have rain at least half of every day we are on the road.

· Moose crossing signs. One dead moose in the ditch.

· Interesting that Saskatchewan has signs printed only in English where other provinces are both French and English. But meters and kilometers instead of feet and miles!

· Saskatoon, the “City of Bridges” with six bridges spanning the South Saskatchewan River also had the Flying J for our overnight stay. It was a welcome sight after a long day driving through an area with very few places to park an “elephant!” We turned onto the Yellow Head Highway #16 that crosses Canada. Named because it goes through the agriculture area where acres of wheat is grown.

· Blackstrap Mountain ski resort sign seemed out of place in this area, but it is a man made mountain built in 1971 for the Canadian Winter Games with a main ski run of 1400 ft.

· When talking to a waitress in Denny’s about time difference she explained that the farmers said the cows do not change time so therefore this province does not change time! No daylight savings time for them!

· It is pretty with the sun rising and making the fields of harvested wheat stalks glow. But thunder and lightening and black clouds ahead for our half day of rain?

Alberta, Canada

Again we see many oil wells, drilling, oil field equipment for sale, rent and manufactured.

Past a town, Vegreville, with a sign advertising “largest pysanka.” A pysanka is an Easter egg decorated using a batik method. This is a Ukrainian tradition. This town is in the center of Alberta’s Ukrainian settlements and has the world’s largest known Easter egg. It is 25 ft by 18 ft made of aluminum and decorated in gold, silver and bright colors! On another trip we had visited the Ukrainian Culture Center just east of Edmonton. It is a museum set up as a community with the buildings of the early settlers.

A stop at the Flying J for the dealer fill, a stop at the Truck/RV wash for the dealer wash job and then to the dealer. We found out that this motor home was for the owner of the dealership. This was the greatest display area we have ever seen at a dealership. The walls were a mural of snow covered mountains, tall pine trees, a lake and stream that went all around the area. The RV’s were set in a circle with artificial trees of all sizes, a couple stuffed deer and a life-sized bear. A fountain in the corner gave you the feeling of hearing the mountain stream! The offices around the edge were all covered with a log-cabin design paper giving you the impression that you were surrounded with buildings! It was good that it was a pleasant place to wait because it took an unusually long time to be checked in!

Thanks to Gertrude, our Garmin, we found a motel a few miles from the dealership with a restaurant attached. A cold, damp wind made the warmth of a room welcome!

The Thai Orchid Restaurant was a new experience for us. It is similar to Chinese cuisine. Instead of a fortune cookie we received a piece of tamarind flavored candy. The warm green tea with real leaves was soothing to my sore throat. Not fun traveling with a sinus cold!

We asked the young lady putting out breakfast at the motel if this damp, cold weather was typical for spring. She replied that every year people complained of a cold spring, but this is normal and probably will have a couple more snows before it warms up!

Our plans are to drive south on Highway 2 through Red Deer and Calgary, then take Trans Canada #1 to Medicine Hat driving south from there to Wild Horse to cross the border into Montana and take scenic route #2 east to North Dakota. We knew the mountain roads around Baniff would be still closed with snow.

A variety of landscapes along the Hwy to Calgary. Rolling hills, farm land, pasture with stacks of round bales, farm & ranch buildings, lakes with ice, pine trees are the only green on the brown landscape, white bark of the birch trees accent the forests, oil wells, and towns and cities with malls. In the distance we can see the snow on the side and peaks of the Rocky Mountains. Calgary’s downtown skyscrapers are outlined against the horizon as we enter the outskirts of the city. A dusting of snow left-over from last night snow shower glistens in the sun.

East on Trans Canada #1 through open acres of fields and pastures. It feels like we are driving along a ridge because we can see for miles! Cattle grazing. The farmers stack their large round bales on end in 2 rows, then layer 2 rows on their side, and top with 1 single layer down the middle! The moisture slides off the round sides and preserves the hay for a longer period of time. Prairie pasture architecture!

Huge farm equipment sitting in the fields ready for seeding.

The fields have their fall harvest combine quilt! A pattern with long strips the width of the combine in light and dark shades as the combine tips the wheat stubble different directions.

Long, fast moving trains on the horizon.

Acres of grassland hills, canals to run water & irrigation rigs, but mostly oil wells and cattle grazing. Canada is dealing with energy—many, many new oil wells and new storage terminals.

A Super 8 in Medicine Hat for the night. The Discovery Channel had a segment showing how they make Winnebago motor homes in Forest City, IA. It has been many years since we toured the plant so enjoyed seeing them make what we deliver!

We heard on the news that Montana was dealing with flooding along the Milk River beside the scenic highway we had planned to take. Changed our plans and continued east into Saskatchewan planning to cross the border at Portal.

Saskatchewan, Canada

The signs tell us that we are traveling though the Canadian Badlands. It is an area of sandstone buttes, sharp cliffs and rough-hewn caves among the grass covered hills. In the late 1800’s, this area was a haven for cattle rustlers, horse thieves and stagecoach robbers because of its forbidding terrain and the proximity to the United States border.

Today there is a Buffalo range, oil & natural gas fields and cattle range.

At Moose Jaw we head south on Hwy #39, another red line going diagonally across the atlas map. This one we will remember for a long time! Shortly after turning we see snow in the air. Then accumulated on the ground. Then blowing across the highway that is snow covered. (Later we heard that the wind was blowing up to 80 mph and the storm had started at 3 AM with heavy rain.) Following a caravan of semi-trucks we slow, then stop, then creep along past vehicles and trucks in ditch or nearly in ditch driving on packed snow up to 8 inches deep with “potholes” where surface of pavement is showing.

Several hours of this before we get to the town of Estavan. Only town with a motel! We did manage the unplowed city streets and got the next to the last room at the Days Inn! No restaurants were open. Half of the town was without electricity. But the motel did serve cold sandwiches and a salad in there restaurant by a few of the employees who made it in to work. We were so thankful for a warm place out of the storm and for Jim’s driving skills in the blizzard! It had taken us 5 hours to go 140 miles.

We started late in the morning. The sun was shining, no wind, but the road was still a washboard of “potholes” and snow/ice covered all the way to the border. Back in North Dakota with very little wait at the border. Most of those crossing were trucks. We heard on the radio that most of the towns in north west North Dakota were still without electricity at the end of that day! On a scale of 1 to 10 it was considered an 8+ storm!

The rest of our trip seemed very uneventful after that day!

Thanks for traveling with us,

Prairie Schooners

Smithville, Ontario in April

On a windy Monday we picked up a 35 ft. Sightseer motor home in Forest City and thankfully, only had to drive it as far as the Prairie. It was a “two hands” on the steering wheel day!

Early Tuesday morning, with a tail wind and 23 degrees we headed east into a beautiful sunrise over the Iowa Mountains!! (There was a long north south cloud bank on the horizon that resembled a range of mountains in the distance. The only mountains we would have in Iowa!)

Nice to see green grass with no snow banks! Temp climbed to 37 degrees under a sunny blue sky by the time we reached Cedar Rapids. Over the Mississippi River, which was back in its banks, into Illinois? A few of the thousands of acres of farmland had been tilled and ready to plant. Through Chicago, into Indiana, on I-94 into Michigan.

Back to late winter, very early spring landscape with no green grass and trees with bare branches

As we drive along the edge of Lake Michigan through low tree covered hills dotted with small towns, businesses and commercial buildings the sky is full of large white clouds. Turning east toward Detroit the Interstate is lined with acres of irrigated farm land, grapevines, fruit trees, Christmas tree farms and occasional wineries.

Thanking the Lord for a safe, clean place to stay TA Truck stop.

Started early AM through Detroit to the Ambassador Bridge. Found it even in the rain. Did manage to get in the wrong lane—not a cash lane. Thankfully it was very early morning and not a lot of traffic. Found some help, paid our toll and we were on our way. Every time we have driven over it there has been lane closures and construction. This time there were huge potholes and not much space to maneuver a “dodge!” Later we read some articles in the local papers telling that there is a controversy over the building of another bridge. The private owners are planning to build a “twin” toll bridge beside this one, but there is a group trying to get government money from Canada and US to build one in a different area.

Through customs and truck inspection which consisted of looking at our log book, checking lights, and asking questions. On the road headed east in the rain driving parallel to the Lake Erie coastline all the way to Smithville.

Acres of flat brown wet farmland. Past Leamington which is known as the “tomato capital of the world!” Just brown stalks left in the fields today.

All signs are in English and then in French. Definitely a language learning experience as we drive along. Km instead of miles. Gas sold in liters instead of gallons. We paid about $4.63 a gal. Most towns have a sport center that includes an ice arena for hockey.

Near London we spotted the first remnants of snow in the ditch with fog ahead. The fog turned out to be snow! Very wet snow that was accumulating on the ground. Small pine trees are wrapped in brown cloth and tied with twine both along the highway and around private homes. We think this is protecting them from being eaten by the deer.

Smooth delivery with rain stopping while we unhooked and unloaded the unit. Back on the road in heavy rain/snow. Over the Ambassador Bridge and a motel in Detroit for the evening.

We found out that the Comfort Inn motel in Dearborn/Taylor had a special that allowed a voucher for admittance and free parking at the Ford Museum. Since the outside exhibits were not open for the season we will wait for another time to visit.

The next morning we headed west on a cloudy, cool day, but thankfully no rain. Into Indiana & through Chicago. Turned off the interstate onto Hwy 6 to Seneca, IL. Acres of farm ground having fertilizer applied. As we get closer to the river the bluffs form a tall line on one side of the road.

Seneca, Illinois

We have wanted to stop and see the old grain elevator in this town. Why? Because managing a grain elevator is on Jim’s resume! We could not get inside today, but it was an awesome sight. The crib like attached building indicated that they also stored large amounts of ear corn. It sits beside the remains of a canal that led to the Illinois River.

The M.J. Hogan Grain Elevator is the oldest remaining grain elevator built along the Illinois & Michigan Canal. The elevator, constructed in 1861-1862 allowed local farmers to ship their grain in bulk to Chicago markets via the canal, as opposed to transporting each load by horse and wagon.

Each day farmers delivered hundreds of thousands of bushels of grain. As many as 400 wagon loads which were weighed, sorted and transported by canal boat pulled by mules.

Throughout history water has been the best way to transport people and goods. From 1673 on, explorers, politicians, investors, travelers and farmers alike saw the advantages of building a canal near Chicago that would link the waters of Lake Michigan with those of the Illinois and Mississippi Rivers, thus providing a water passage all the way to the Gulf of Mexico. In 1825, when the Erie Canal opened as a link between the Great Lakes and Eastern seaboard, the proposed Illinois canal gained impetus because its construction would provide a continuous water highway stretching from New York to New Orleans.

After years of planning, the Canal Commissioners began building the I&M Canal in 1836, but faced numerous hurdles including a shortage of workers, and a national financial panic in 1837. Irish, as well as German, Swedish and other immigrants, attracted by the promise of abundant jobs, flocked to Illinois to begin the arduous work of digging the 96 mile canal by hand. Jeremiah Crotty, an Irish immigrant, contracted to build 11 miles of the Illinois & Michigan Canal, which bisects the Village. Today there is a recreational trail running along the edge of the abandoned canal.

The town is an interesting mix of old buildings and homes and new. The bluffs create an interesting challenge for building and streets!

Seneca was also well known for the Shipyard, which built Navy warships called LST's or Landing Ship Tanks. The Shipyard was in operation from 1942 to 1945 with a final production of 157 LST's built. The shipyards played an important role in World War II because they helped people by providing money and many jobs to our community. There is a memorial in the park dedicated to the 27.000 employees who worked at this factory and to the service men who served on the LST.

LeClaire, Iowa

This little town next to the Mississippi River has some interesting history. Lewis and Clark camped here, first settlers came in 1834, from 1848 to 1880 it is said that 350 rivermen lived here all at the same time. They included inventors, clericals, builders, captains, pilots, engineers, cooks, firemen, raft hands, deck hands and mates, dredge hands and lock tenders. Others helped with the construction of dams or worked on shore supporting the river work. Buffalo Bill, the great scout, Indian fighter and showman is perhaps the most famous to claim LeClaire their home.

The Buffalo Bill Museum was closed for the day, but we could see the full-sized riverboat through the windows. Many interesting shops are located along Main Street and a guide showing the names of the riverboat captains that owned the houses built along the river is available at the Welcome Center. Our Super 8 was on a bluff overlooking the river. We sat at a booth beside windows overlooking the river at Happy Joes Pizza & Ice Cream restaurant enjoying both pizza and ice cream while it rained! It was too early in the season to see any barges moving up or down the river.

Hoover Museum

“My grandparents and my parents came here in a covered wagon. In this community they toiled and worshiped God…The most formative years of my boyhood were spent here. My roots are in this soil….” Herbert Hoover

Today the buildings of the town of West Branch and site help recall that historic setting. The birthplace cottage, blacksmith shop, Friends Meetinghouse, and schoolhouse are all open to the public. The town itself seemed to be a quiet, peaceful place on the day we were there.

The museum contained information both about the Hoovers and the history that helped form the decisions they made both for themselves and the country. Herbert was the second of three children born to Jessie and his wife, Hulda. His father, Jessie, was a blacksmith. He sold his blacksmith shop and opened a farm implement business in 1879. One of the ads he posted for his business stated, “Having bought my goods early, I can sell you at reasonable prices anything in my line from a sewing machine needle to a steam engine.” Jessie died of a heart attack in December 1880 leaving his wife with the responsibility of raising their 3 children.

By taking in sewing and economizing, Hulda was able to save the money from Jesse’s insurance policy for her children’s education. One of the items in the museum was a metal pattern maker consisting of 4 pieces that could be moved and shaped to fit person and style. I’d seen parts of them before, but never a whole set complete with the instruction book titled, Drafting and Cutting for Dresses, Basques, Sacques, Coats, Etc. I admire their ability to use this simple method compared to my files of paper patterns upstairs in my closet!!

She was a noted speaker in the Quaker Community and often called to nearby Meetings. On one trip in 1884 she caught a cold that developed into pneumonia and then typhoid fever which caused her death leaving the Herbert and his sister and brother orphans.

The children were sent to live with various relatives. Herbert, 9 years old, went to his Aunt and Uncle on a farm near West Branch. As a boy he fished in the creek with a willow pole, butcher string line and patience instilled by the Quaker discipline. Fishing became a life long passion as did the Quaker tenants of emotional self-containment and a commitment to worldly success matched by obligation to others. Later in life he wrote the following poem about fishing:

Fishing

Tis’ the chance to wash my soul with pure air,

With the rush of the brook or with the shine of the sun on the blue water,

It brings meekness and inspiration from the decency of nature,

Charity toward tackle makers,

Patience toward fish,

A mockery of profits and egos,

A quieting of hate,

A rejoicing that you do not have to decide a darned thing until next week!

And it is discipline in the equality of men----

For all men are equal before fish!

When Herbert was 11, he was sent to Oregon to live with his mother’s brother who owned a land company. In a geology lab at college he met Lou Henry, a banker’s daughter born in Waterloo, Iowa. She was the first girl to take geology! They corresponded after graduation and during his job with British Company as a mining engineer in Australia. He found gold, but wrote back this description of Australia—“A country of dust, black flies, and white heat!”

He and Lou were married and went to China to develop coal mines, survived the Boxer Rebellion, had 2 sons, traveled with his family all over the globe working for a company known as the “doctor of sick mines” until he established his own firm of engineering consultants based in London. Herbert & Lou translated a 16^th century treatise on mining, published it and it remains a standard reference work to this day!

The Quaker traditions of being humane and generous to others set him on a course of public service for the rest of his life.

Interesting Highlights from the Museum:

• Hoover administrated the ARA (American Relief Administration) to feed the refugees in countries in Europe during WWI. Flour in cotton sacks was distributed, but carefully monitored as to who received them because the Germans needed cotton to manufacture ammunition. The empty sacks were distributed to schools, sewing workrooms and individual artists for their use. Some were embellished with exquisite embroidery & artwork transforming them for resale. They were also made into functional bags, boxes, pillows or clothing.

• Before the ARA undertook to feed the Russian people they were eating “famine” bread made out of clay, manure, weeds and straw!

• During this time the American people were asked to have “meatless Monday” and “wheatless Wednesday” in order to have more food to ship overseas to the refugees. The slogan was: “Go back to simple food, simple clothes, and simple pleasures. Pray hard, Work hard, Sleep hard, and Play hard. Do it all courageously and cheerfully. We have a victory to win!”

• A valentine from this era stated: “To My Valentine. I can Hooverize on dinners, on lights and on fuel, too. But I’ll never learn to Hooverize when it comes to loving you!”

• As Secretary of Commerce he used his engineering skills to “standardize” many manufactured products. He also built the Hoover Dam as a flood relief project and power source.

Most people only remember him as President Hoover during the depression. We found that there was a lot more to his life and service. Definitely worth a few hours of your time.

At the Visitor Center was a display showing the Underground Railroad activity in Iowa. Many of the homes are still intact and the hiding places have been found by the new owners.

Yes, Iowa has played a big part in America’s history over the years. We thank the Lord for those who have spent time investigating facts and setting up displays to teach us of our heritage!

Back on I-80 headed to Des Moines and meeting our new great-granddaughter, attending a grand-daughter’s concert and some time with family. Our personal heritage!

Thank you for traveling with us,

Prairie Schooners

Almost to Draper, UT

It was a cloudy 37° when we picked up a 32’ gas-powered dark carmel colored Suncruiser on a Ford chassis to deliver to Draper, Utah. The unusual interior contained a U-shaped dinette with cushioned seating. The color scheme Nightingale, Black, Forest with cherry wood cabinets was rich looking, but a little dark. The dash has an actual glove compartment for the passenger. This unit was sold with a buyer waiting for its delivery!

Through to windshield:

• Thankfully no rain or snow as predicted and no wind!
• The fields have a “prepared” look. Black & smooth & ready for planting.
• Two hours south we see green grass and green leaves popping on the branches of the trees.
• West on I-80 rolling hills with windmills mounted on the peaks, graceful curving green terraces create a pattern on the landscape as we near the Missouri River.
• Irrigation systems stand in the fields in Nebraska like runners lined up waiting for the “gun” to signal the start of a race.
• Driving beside the Platte River, which is running bank full, we see flocks of pelicans on the ponds, wild turkeys are feeding with the males strutting their beautiful fan of tail feathers, and baby calves romping in the pastures with the cows.
• Signs pointing to many museums for us to explore sometime.
• Nearing the panhandle we see residual snow banks in ditches and edges of fields and on the slopes of the mountains on the horizon left from the blizzard in this area a few days ago.
• The map of north and western Nebraska in the atlas shows large areas of white with only a few lines (highways). Driving through you see acres and acres of open spaces. I believe it is called the high plains because of the low mountains covered with grass pasture.
• Into Wyoming the trees outline the river, herds of cattle graze, green fields of winter wheat make a vivid contrast, farm & ranch buildings and occasional large grain elevators beside the river.
• Some pastures have ribbons of gold/brown hay residue left from big bales of hay being unrolled or chopped for feed during the winter.
• Oil wells dot the hills. Refineries, electrical plants and wires, storage tanks dot the landscape. A herd of antelope graze.
• Rocky bluffs and deep grassy canyons.
• Rows of pine trees planted as windbreaks between the fields.
• Higher mountains in the distance with snow-covered peaks.
• Dry land strip farming gives a pattern of alternating green winter wheat fields and brown stalks from last years harvest.
• Large circles of new green and large circles of old crop brown are formed by the irrigation rigs.
• We found out from conversation with locals that this area did not get much snow this winter. They are very dry. The green winter wheat fields showed bare spots.

Cheyenne, Wyoming is as far as we go west this trip. Our unit’s alternator quit working so we leave it in “intensive care” at the Ford dealership and head back east on I-80.

Good eats this trip: (thank-you, kids, for the restaurant gift card Christmas gifts!)

• Egg tarts at the Hong Kong Buffet.
• Perkins grilled tilapia with a mango shrimp sauce. Was surprised at the “hot” peppers in the sauce.
• Perkins Benedict specials—The portabella, spinach, tomato, & Swiss cheese was super!
• Applebee’s sweet desert treat for our anniversary supper—super rich chocolate brownie cake with ice cream.

After driving under it hundreds of times, we stopped at the Great Platte River Road Archway that spans I-80 at Kearney, Nebraska.

It is an “experience” using film, computer graphics, light and sound, life size dioramas, re-enactors and classic cars to depict history spanning 150 years of transportation and communications in the United States. The Mormon Trail, the Oregon Trail, the California Gold Rush Trail, the Pony Express, the Transcontinental Railroad, the Lincoln Highway, Highway 30, Interstate 80 and coast to coast fiber optics all go through Kearney, Nebraska following the Platte River.

Did you know:

• There is a Conestoga wagon odometer? It is made of wood and measures the distance the wagon has traveled.
• It cost $500 to travel from Ft. Kearney to California via stagecoach.
• The Union Pacific was given land to build the transcontinental railroad. After it was built the company sold the land for $2.75 an acre. Emigrants from the east rushed by the hundreds of thousands to purchase land along the railroad. Small towns sprang up. For these ranchers, miners, farmers and merchants the rail road was a lifeline.
• A letter sent by Pony Express cost from $2.50 to $5.00 depending on weight. From St. Joseph, MO to San Francisco, CA took 10 days. The first stop was at Ft. Kearney, NE.
• Capt. John Sutter had 48,000 acres of ranch in California that he grazed and farmed. When gold was discovered the miners literally took over his land, killing his herds and digging up his ranch.
• With the Model T Ford came the dream of a transcontinental highway. In 1913 America dedicated its newest main street—3,389 mile-long Lincoln Highway. One man was quoted, “any old kind of automobile can get from NY to Chicago… But west of Chicago the real trip commences….then we become pioneers.”

I checked their website and found some interesting information on how this museum was constructed. The challenge was how to erect a 1500 ft structure that would cross 308 ft of interstate without stopping traffic. It was built beside the site and lifted over the interstate! It is designed to look like a covered bridge. The exterior is to resemble a Nebraska sunset.

Our last stop on way back to the Prairie was in Des Moines. Needed to hold our newest blessing, our Great-Granddaughter one more time!

Thanks for traveling with us,

Prairie Schooners

Delivery to North East, PA

After a long winter of “weather,” finally a week of good driving weather predicted. Snow was melted off the driveway making it possible to pick up the unit, bring it home, hook it up, pack it up, do our Genesis Bible Study, and one last night’s sleep in our bed.

A 36 ft Winnebago Sightseer did make it up our muddy driveway between snow banks in a dark early morning take-off. A stiff south-east wind, but clear roadway once we turned off the gravel road.

Partly cloudy sky is highlighted with shades of pink and mauve as the sun rises. Not much traffic. The effects of warm weather are visible. Bare ground in the fields and some open water in the rivers.

Praising our Heavenly Father as we sing along with our Ball Brothers gospel music CD. Crossing the Mississippi River into Illinois heading to Chicago. Chunks of ice are floating down the river. No barges in sight.

It is definitely not the “peak” travel season. The Rest Stops have very few cars, even Flying J was not busy, mostly trucks. The tree trunks have collars of brown where the snow has melted. Snow banks along the highway are a dirty grey.

Into Indiana loosing an hour as we cross out of central standard time. Large snowbanks and more snow cover everywhere as we travel east of Chicago on the toll road.

Into Ohio. Deer are grazing in the open fields. Flat farmland with neat farmsteads as far as you can see on the horizon. Two-story houses, large barns, sheds, silos and grain bins. No activity gives us the feeling that everyone is hibernating! One area has large hip-roof barns with 3 ends. A short barn is built from the side of a longer barn. Would be interesting to know who built them in this area.

Listening to the Prodigal Project series in which the author writes about his concept of life after the rapture. A vivid picture of how Satan twists people’s minds with words and phrases using their desires and lusts for evil while appearing to be for good. It seemed very real when compared to what is going in our world today.

Ohio Travel Plaza on toll way near Woodville for the night. Very nice place to stay. Separate area for RV parking, warm, clean, well-lighted with several choices of food, travel information and phones available. Our LP heater did not give us any heat! Cozy in our sleeping bags, but up early and took books into plaza to read where it was warm & eat breakfast before packing up for the last leg of our delivery.

A quick fuel stop after calculating how many gallons needed to get to destination. Back on the toll way heading east with an orange/red/pink/ mauve sunrise ahead! Past the exit to Hayes Presidential Home & Museum. We enjoyed our stop there last year. Grey black snow along the edge of the highway contrasts with the pure white on the landscape.

I-480 and I-271 make it easy to get past Cleveland. Only one area of traffic congestion where 4 high ways had exit ramps! The highways are dusty white from previous salt and sand applications.

Into Pennsylvania. We are driving through rolling hills covered with trees hiding our view of the countryside. Steep valleys with streams of slushy snow and ice mixture. Black wild turkeys walking thru the woods are very visible against the white snow.

As we get near the town of North East in Pennsylvania fields of grapevines are everywhere along with signs pointing to local wineries. The town has old buildings with lots of “character!” Grapevines growing where ever there is not a house!

Dealership was easy to find. Quick check-in.

We chose state Hwy 5 along the shore of Lake Erie as the sun broke thru the clouds highlighting the ice covered lake with acres of grapevines on either side of the road. The marinas have boats shrink-wrapped with white and blue plastic sitting on the parking lot.

We found our way to the port driving past large old brick buildings in Erie. The flagship, Niagara, calls this her home port, but she is getting some major “fixing up” this winter. The Maritime Museum is only open on the week-ends during the winter. Bummer! We did walk down to the edge of the lake. A small light house was sitting on the island across the ice covered water. Fishing houses dotted the lakeshore. A large ore boat and tug were sitting next to the dock for repairs. Behind us the sun was shining on the golden dome and cross of an Orthodox church built on a cliff overlooking the port.

Headed west and home with only one detour! Name was selected by Bennett Drive-Away office for a random drug test and directed to a clinic in downtown Cleveland, Ohio during after work commuter time! Thanks to our Garmin we found it and thankfully we were in the Saturn and not the motor home!

A Texas Roadhouse restaurant was near our motel, but full with people waiting. That left only an Italian restaurant or The Boneyard! Decided to give it a try. Excellent ribs, wonderful cole slaw and of course sweet potato fries are always delicious. Potato cheese soup was tasty. Bone décor is not so much appreciated. You can enjoy any sport you like on the dozens of overhead large screen TV’s!

Surprise! The snow banks beside our driveway had disappeared while we were gone. Can’t be very long until warm spring weather arrives, can it??

Thanks for traveling with us,

Prairie Schooners

Lake Dallas, Texas in March 2010

Picked up unit, a Via, after Jim's safety meeting. Packed. Another special night with our Revelation Bible study group. A good night's rest and on the road by 6:30 AM. Blue skies and a glorious sun rise!

Through Missouri, into the Flint Hills of Kansas. From 32 degrees on the Prairie this morning to 78 degrees! The miles seem to fly by. Our overnight stop is at the Flying J in Edmond, Oklahoma.

5:15 AM on the road with Gertrude (our Garmin) guiding us through Oklahoma City. Not so much road construction this time. A helicopter with a spotlight had been flying in circles overhead in the dark. Why??

Into Texas. Taking our exit to dealer. Washed unit. Easy, fast check-in.

On the road on the Saturn heading to Osage Beach, Missouri for a week-end of Gospel Music.

View from the windshield:
Green pastures.
Green fields of winter wheat.
White blossoms on the ornamental pear trees.
Sign: Jesus fought the battle for us at crucifixion.
Fragrance of new mown grass.
Daffodils blooming
Fruit & Veggie stands open.
Few sprinkles of rain to sunshine.

Stopped at a rest area on US-69 near Aotoka, Oklahoma for a "power nap" and discovered a roadside jewel:

Confederate Memorial Museum and Cemetery

The museum offers a unique look into the varied history of southeastern Oklahoma. From pre-historic bones, the Choctaw Trail of Tears and a stop on the Butterfield Stage Line, to homegrown talents Reba McEntire and the late Lane Frost. It is free. At certain times of the year they have reenactments. Check their website.

The quiet cemetery's ground was covered with wild flowers. Old gravestones were set under some trees on a rise between the Muddy Boggy River (formerly called the Middle Boggy River) and the Butterfield Trail. You could almost feel yourself walking along this trail in the early 1800's. The Choctaw followed this trail as they moved to Indian territory in the 1830's. By 1849 thousands of gold-seekers rushed over the trail to California.

The U.S. Government contracted with John Butterfield, in 1857, to carry the St. Louis/Memphis mail through Fort Smith to Los Angeles and San Francisco. The first Butterfield coach came through from Fort Smith, Arkansas in September 1858. Butterfield kept 100 horse-drawn Concord wagons and coaches on the trail at all times. Each carried five or six passengers, a driver, a conductor, and 500-600 lbs. of mail and baggage.

The sign advertising for the coach read as follows:

Take Butterfield's New Coach to California
2 trips per week!
St. Louis to San Francisco via Ft. Smith, boggy Creek I.T., and El Paso!
2,795 miles continuous day and night!
Fare: $200 in gold plus meals, at 75 cents ea.
Each passenger may carry 40 lb baggage---

It is recommended that each person bring:

One Sharp's rifle and a hundred cartridges; a Colts navy revolver and two pounds of balls;
a knife and sheath; a pair of thick boots and woolen pants; a half dozen pairs
of thick woolen socks; six undershirts; three woolen overshirts; a wide-awake hat;
a cheap sack coat; a soldier's overcoat; one pair of blankets in summer and two in winter;
a piece of India rubber cloth for blankets; a pair of gauntlets; a small bag of needles, pins;
a sponge, hair brush, comb, soap, etc., in an oil silk bag; two pairs of thick drawers,
and tree or four towels.

This trail was vital to settling the west, but it's impact was short lived. Service was halted by the Civil War (1861-1865). Afterward, railroads transported mail more quickly and this trail was obsolete.

The grounds currently occupied by the museum were used as a Confederate outpost during the Civil War. Soldiers camped here to guard the Butterfield Stage Road and it is possible the Battle of the Middle Boggy on February 13, 1864 was fought here.

Interesting items in the Museum:

A 5# cloth flour sack with a design ready to embroidery stamped on the back. Gay Girl phosphated, bleached flour from the Arkansas City Flour Mills Co in Arkansas City, Kansas.

A pair of clamp-on roller skates.

A sign in the 1930's kitchen:
The l930's A time of use it up, wear it out, make it do, or do without!

Inventor of Shopping Carts:
Sylvan Goldman, owner-operator of Standard Food Markets, one of the first chains of self-service supermarkets in Oklahoma City, noticed that shoppers would go to check-out counter as soon as their hand carried basket was full. This was not good for sales. He had assistants patrol the aisles and take the full baskets to a holding area while replacing it with an empty basket. One evening in 1937, while working late in his office, he noticed a pair of wooden folding chairs and an idea for the original shopping cart was born! By raising the seat of the folding chair and placing another seat underneath, each could hold a hand basket. Wheels could be adapted as a handle! When he tested his product the women likened the new invention to a baby carriage and had quite enough of pushing that! Men felt the carts made them look effeminate and refused to touch them. But the elderly welcomed the new invention! He hired models to push the carts and the customers realized how convenient they were. A success.

Definitely a "power nap" on steroids at this stop!

The Super 8 at McCallister, Oklahoma for the night. We found the Angel Diner beside the Happy Days Motel. (That looked like a fun place to stay, too!) The Diner had pink , black and red & white cadillacs parked in front. The parking lanes in the lot were painted pink. The food was all freshly prepared as ordered. The pizza's looked delicious. They were baked on a wooden paddle and served on a paper placemat at your table with a choice of red sauce (tomato based) or cream sauce (based on ranch dressing). Pink walls, black & white tile floor. Juke box playing 50's & 60's music. Pictures of Elvis and Marilyn Monroe along with other movie stars and antiques decorated the walls. The items on the menu were reasonably priced and specially named--Andy's Meat Loaf (very good), Barney's Beans & Cornbread, etc.

A drive in heavy rain to the Super 8 in Osage Beach, Missouri.

The Great Lake of the Ozarks Gospel Sing

Dr. Todd Forman, pastor, hosts this event each spring at The Mainstreet Music Hall at The Landing on Main Street in Osage Beach, Missouri. Check their website for details.

The motel is walking distance from the Music Hall. Choice of some good restaurants in the area including a great seafood buffet at Shoneys. An outlet mall for shopping and walking. A state park for some hiking. Fun visiting with the people sitting around you. Most of all--Great Music!!

We listened to Gold City, Perry's, Ball Brothers, Dove Brothers, Higher Power Quartet, Martins, Booth Brothers, The Lesters. Each concert is like being in a Worship Service. Each has it's own style.

Some of our favorite songs:
Martins: "Nothing Can Seperate Us From the Love of the Father" and "Nothing Takes God by Surprise"
Perry's: "Potter Knows the Clay" and "I Rest My case at the Cross"
Gold City: "Midnight Call"
Ball Brothers: "I Wouldn't Miss Heaven for the World" and "Sometimes He Calms the Storm, Other Times He Calms His Child"

We did have to deal with some rainy days this year! And a fire alarm that went off at 2 AM! A water leak into an exit sign caused a short.

Back north in sunshine humming some new tunes.

Thank-you for "traveling via the web" with us!

Prairie Schooners