Stu: A new adventure - Donna has arrived

Donna has arrived and we are starting a new adventure together
Sep 6, 2008

Donna Yeaw has arrived and we have set up light housekeeping in my rig. Our next few months will be filled with travel to see all out family and friends on the east coast. NY, MD, PA, OH, TN, LA and FL. Then winter between Fl and TX returning to MD in April for Melissa and Mike's wedding in April. Be sure to visit our new BLOG, I will not be using this journal after this post.

The new blog will not automatically send out update notices. However, I will send out an email from time to time when we update it significantly. Donna will add things almost everyday we are on the move or when we see something worthwhile..check in often, add comments or just email us from time to time...we will answer as soon as we can.

Thanks for caring and travel safe...we will.

Stu & Donna

Stu: New Grandbaby

New Grandbaby
Aug 7, 2008

Today, heather (my oldest) had her second daughter. Born at 4;45 Am, Jesse May Edwards blessed the world with her "OH so quick" appearance. She decide to have a very private entrance at Easton Memorial Hospital, leaving her poor mother with absolutely no time to call anyone. Obviously she will be a determined young lady with a mind of her own. I couldn't ask for more. Heather and Jesse are doing fine. I had the privilege of bringing "Big Sister" to visit. Olivia held , kissed, rub and hugged her new sister. She also promised to help Mom as best she could and show Jesse all the tricks she has learned. Can't wait. Heather, I am very proud of you as a daughter and a Mother. You deserve everything you get.

Stu (Dad)

Stu: Happy Birthday USA & a New Journey

Happy Birthday USA & a New Journey
Jul 4, 2008

The 4th of July was spent celebrating with fellow SOLOS at a cookout while waiting for fireworks. My time bounced from eating, drinking and enjoying Donna's company. It was obvious to both of us that there was more then fireworks in the air. We met a local Gillette guy, a fellow biker. He asked if I wanted to go riding the next day, I said yes and invited Donna to go as well...she agreed and the next day we were off to Sheridan WY and the surrounding area. The scenery was absolutely breathtaking.

To make a long story short and avoid any redundancy, Donna and I decided to join forces and travel together. We have traveled Yellowstone, Butte MT and other areas around Montana. We have much in common and love to explore. We will travel the East Coast and catch up with friends and family. Our next moves will be out west via a southern route...then who knows.

Donna is somewhat of a "Zen Blog Master"...She has started a new blog for us at: 2 Taking a 5th. She will be the primary author and I will chime in from time to time. This Journal will stay up for about 6-8 months and then be archived. I will email you from time to time when we do updates...you can also subscribe via a reader program..such as google reader . If you need help with any of it, email me and I will help you through it.

Please take a minute and visit the new site, there are other links to Donna's other sites as well...I think you will find her story interesting...she is quite an adventurous lady.

Stu

Stu: More Escapade and a Dinner date

More Escapade and a Dinner date
Jul 2, 2008

Part of the Escapade is an area they call "the Row". It has some of the expected RV vendors as well as Escapees booths. Many of the Birds of a Feather (BOF) groups have a booth and inform folks of their activities, meetings, rallies etc. These are groups with like interests, hobbies or backgrounds. One that I was interested in was a group called the SOLOs. All RV'rs that travel alone. Either by choice or destiny.

In the booth that day was a lady everyone called "Froggy". Her real name is Donna. I filled out an application and left one of my cards. On the card was the URL for my travel journal. Later that night Donna read the entries about Lin and emailed me to express her shock over the last few months. Many emails back and forth ended with me asking Donna out to dinner. Our first official date.

We went to dinner at around 6 the next day and damn near closed the place. We had so much in common, Donna had lost her husband to cancer in 2004. She rides motorcycles and full-time RVs. Seemed like a good fit to me. We later spent most of the remaining Escapade together including the 4th of July and Motorcycle rides.

Stu

Stu: The Escapees, Gillette "Escapade"

The Escapees, Gillette "Escapade"
June 26, 2008

The first days at the Escapade were filled with motorcycle rides. 12 bikes rode out to Devils Tower and around the area. We ate at the small town of Alladin, population 11. The waitress said the population was down to 8, 2 died and 1 moved out since the last count. 2nd day we went to Spearfish Canyon, a beautiful ride through a part of South Dakota and Wyoming. The views were nothing like back east. The canyon side were very steep and covered with evergreens. None of the pictures I took could do it justice. Both days were great rides, I will be back to do them again.

Stu

Stu: Arrived at Gillette

Arrived at Gillette
Jun 25, 2008

After a somewhat short but visually uneventful trip from Wheatland WY, I arrived early in Gillette WY. Wind and open spaces dominated the trip. The parking crew from the Escapees guided me into the narrow pull-thru and I set-up quickly, all the awnings, unloaded the bike etc. Just in time to go to the first meeting about the Motorcycle trips on the 27th and 28th. 5 minutes after the meeting almost got started, local authorities informed us of a storm coming our way, 2 inch hail and high winds. End of meeting and everyone scrambled back to secure the rigs. The awnings won't go out again while I'm here. Motorcycle HOPS next.

Stu

Stu: On the road north

On the road north
Jun 24, 2008

Spent the night in a small town in Wheatland Wyoming. Seemed like the windiest spot in the State, until I found out the "W" in Wyoming stands for wind. Aimed the rig into the headwinds and slept the night away. Nice ride coming out of Denver. The plains to my right and the Rocky Mountains to the left. Denver appeared like any other big city, I am sure it has some redeeming value, just didn't see it from the interstate. Not enough time for anything else by a drive-through.

Stu

Stu: Colorado Springs and Pikes Peak

Colorado Springs and Pikes Peak
Jun 22, 2008

Made camp at Mountaindale Campground, a beautiful spot right on the side of a mountain just past the Cheyenne Mountain Military complex. Lots of security warnings, threats of death etc. The next day I prepped the bike and headed out to climb to the top of Pikes Peak. (ride actually, you didn't really think this guy was going to climb!)

The ride was very interesting to say the least, warm and sunny on the bottom; cold and snowy on the top. The road was paved most of the way, with two sections of gravel. Frost heaving tears parts of the road up, so there is constant repairs being made. Kind of fun dodging large equipment when there are no guard rails and the drop off is a couple thousand feet.

It was a great ride, I was glad I took the time to do it. I also discovered there is a lot more to see in the area and have put it on my list to return and explore. This area is the beginning of the Rocky Mountains. The transition from plains to the mountains is dramatic, it's like someone drew a line... the plains end here and the mountains start there.

Stu

Stu: In the middle of the High plains (Nowhere USA)

In the middle of the High plains (Nowhere USA)
Jun 21, 2008

After a great visit in Wichita, I headed west to Colorado. Traveling on Interstate 70 through more prairie. There was a lot of prairie, It was pretty and all that, just a lot of it. I stopped at the Sternberg museum. Plenty of dinosaurs and other interesting stuff. Nice way to stretch the legs. Finished just in Colorado at a campground run by a hippie straight out of the 60s. What a hoot.

Stu

Stu: At Paul & Debbie's

At Paul & Debbie's
Jun 19, 2008

Spent a few days at Paul and Debbie Soutar's (Lin's Brother and sister-in-law) Barely fit in the driveway. Had a great visit and enjoyed a nice sit-down dinner for a change. It was good to see the family and catch up on a few happenings. I was able to meet with my old boss from AACOFD, Chief Blackwell (now Chief of Wichita FD). We had dinner together and caught up on some of the goings on both in Wichita and back in MD as well. It was really good to see him, he seems to be doing well.

Stu

Stu: North of Wichita

North of Wichita
Jun 16, 2008

Decided to find a quiet place to relax and do some riding. Ended up doing about 400 miles through the Kansas prairie. It was outstanding. I kept expecting Kevin Costner to come riding through on his horse chasing down the buffalo. It was quite a ride. My goal was to get Rt66 through Kansas, all 13 miles of it. I did. On the way I stopped for lunch and later dinner at local restaurants, enjoyed the local chatter and friendly waitresses. Great day for sure.

Stu

Stu: Guess who?

Guess who?
Jun 16, 2008

Duane's last trip "over the road". We were able to hook up just east of Oklahoma city. Spent the night at a Flying J truck stop. Killed a few brain cells that night. Good seeing him. Good luck in the new job.

Stu

Stu: St Louis and Route 66

St Louis and Route 66
Jun 14, 2008

Started early today. I was out the door and on the road before 8:00. I went to a local eatery named the Hen House. It was the one with all the pickup trucks in front of it. Not many tourists there. They don’t vacation on PU trucks. Anyway, my favorite eateries are the one where the locals eat. Staff tends to be friendly, food is good and I enjoy hear the local goings on.

I was on my way to find the point where Rt66 comes across the Mississippi river. 80 some miles later I found the “Chain of Rocks Bridge” Access was better from the Illinois side so over the I70 Bridge I went. The old bridge is restricted to hikers and bicycles. It was quite a site to see, very narrow and well worn. The most exciting part was to see the swollen Mississippi. One of the locals said it was 40 feet higher than normal. The news said it would not crest until later this week. I’m glad I’m leaving.

The rest of Rt 66 through St Louis was next to impossible to find, so I opted to go to the Arch and the Anheuser-Busch brewery. I had lunch at one of the micro-brews on the Riverview area. Beer was great; the Quesadia was mediocre and not very hot. After that I searched for Rt 66 as it came out of St Louis and ended up at Ted Drewes Frozen custard. The place was packed. The lines almost fell out into the street. I had a Brownie concrete, ground up brownie with vanilla custard. One of the locals said that all the help gets their college paid for as long as they work there. Quite amazing.

The road was easier to find from this point on. Although, the signage is confusing and sometimes non-existent. Rt66 is no longer a US highway, much of the designation and signage is secondary to the official highways. You can’t find it on a map and most GPS units are of little help. So with the help of some print-outs from the internet, I was able to navigate the remainder back to camp. At times I had to ride the Interstate because the Road had been covered over. Check out the pictures of some of the many landmarks I came across.

Tomorrow may well be a day of rest. I logged about 300 miles on the bike and some of that was in the city (ugh).

Stu

Stu: Long wet drive to Missouri

Long wet drive to Missouri
Jun 13, 2008

Well, I left great weather only to run into the bad stuff on my way through Indiana. Just as well, there wasn’t much to see in that state. One day I will go back and tour the Indie speedway and search out what else the state may have to offer. I kept a sharp ear on the weather radio. The storms were predicted to be severe. I don’t know about anyone else but I am extremely allergic to tornados. Fortunately, just a lot of rain and some wind, nothing the rig couldn’t handle. I set-up camp in a Coast to Coast park 75 miles west of St Louis right off of Rt66 or what’s left of it. My research on the “Mother road” indicated that a lot of the original road is gone, covered destroyed or in various states of decay. No matter tomorrow I will return to St Louis to find it and follow as much as I can coming back to camp.

Stu

Stu: Riding through Ohio

Riding through Ohio
Jun 12, 2008

The rides through this area were on the par of those in the Smokies. Not as long and certainly not as scenic but wonderful just the same. I rode near buffalo farms, Mail Pouch tobacco barns and great log homes. The whole area was diverse and interesting. You just had to keep your eye peeled for Deer, OMG they were everywhere!

Stu

Stu: Ohio

Ohio
Jun 11, 2008

I had to take a northern direction after getting over the Appalachian Mts. It sounded like some severe weather was going to hit the Charleston WV area and I wanted to get a good day riding in before the next leg. I ended up in northern Ohio, about 75 miles south of Canton, not far off of I70. 50 some miles later I found myself in some of the nicest farm country with great roads for the bike. Taking the rig around was a bit of a different story but no dings or scratches. Found an Escapees park run by a single Mom. It was a bit rustic but very functional. Setup in a pull-through and was able to leave the truck attached.

Tomorrow, I explore the roads in the area. Weather promises to be excellent.

Stu

Stu: Gettysburg Battlefield RV Resort

Gettysburg Battlefield RV Resort
Jun 9, 2008

A day at the Battlefield
Jun 10, 2008

Well my day in Gettysburg didn’t quite work out the way I thought it might. Duog Fishel had cell phone issues and we never connected. It seems he is busy being a farmer and was planting soy beans. Oh well, better luck next time.

I did spend most of the day on the bike, touring the battlefield and going to some places I hadn’t seen before. Seems I always find something new every time I’m there.

I did take quick run up to see Ann and Dave. I had left a case for my Garmin in his car and thought it would be a nice ride to go get it. It only looked like a little distance on the map. 2 hours later I arrived in Warfordburg, visited for a bit and rode back. It was a long day to say the least. Tomorrow, back in the truck and on my way to somewhere west.

STU

Stu: Finally got moving

Finally got moving
Jun 8, 2008

Said all the good byes, got all the maintenance done on the truck and motorcycle and headed out. First stop is Gettysburg Battlefield RV Resort. My home base for Coast to Coast membership. Call one of the guys that used to work for me at AACOFD, Doug Fishel. Planned to meet and ride the bikes for a while. This area is always pretty, good scenery and some good motorcycle roads.

On a separate note: this is my first serious trip since losing Lin. I find myself reflecting on all that has happened since then. Some very special people in my life gave me some serious support in many different ways. All of you know who you are and I can't thank you enough. My family, friends and brothers and sister from the Department were all part of that. The love and concern for me was, at times, overwhelming and very much appreciated.

Thanks

Stu