Airport Diner

If you like 50s style diners and/or airplanes, may I suggest the Airport Diner just south of Fredericksburg, TX. Obviously, I am much too young to remember the 50s but based on what I have read this is a pretty authentic-looking diner...

The diner sits on the edge of the runway so you can watch aircraft land and depart while eating

Soda fountain (millennials may have to "Google" this)

Douglas C-47 (my father maintained these during WWII in the Pacific)

There is even a hotel next door to the diner if you are looking for lodging in the area

Stonehenge

I apparently passed through a space/time portal today and was transported to Stonehenge. Normally, this type of thing does not occur until after I have consumed mass quantities of American Honey Bourbon...

National Museum Of The Pacific War

I am staying at the Lady Bird Johnson Municipal Park Campground just south of Fredericksburg, TX for the next week with the intent of exploring the "Texas Hill Country".

My first port of call (that's navy talk) was the National Museum Of The Pacific War, an outstanding exhibit chronicling the war in the Pacific during WWII. Plan on spending a couple of hours here and if you add the Tour the Pacific Combat Zone and the Tour the Admiral Nimitz Museum (Fredericksburg is the birthplace of Admiral Nimitz), make that at least half a day .

No Dieting This Week

One of the things I am enjoying here in the Dallas-Forth Worth area is the variety of restaurants. For lunch today I had deep-fried catfish, fresh-cut fries and hush puppies at Logan's Fish House. It may not be good for the heart but my taste buds loved it...

Plus, it's a classy place to eat...

Munzee Bash

I had planned on attending the Munzee Bash in McKinney, TX this weekend but as the list of attendees grew to ~140, I decided that is too many people in one spot for me to enjoy the event (the older I get, the less I like crowds). A lot of players in the top 100 list are in town and are putting up some pretty impressive numbers...

In as much as I tend to stay in small towns that are "Munzee challenged", it is fun to be in a metropolitan area where there are points to be captured just about everywhere you go. I will be here for another six days so it will be interesting to see what my score will be at the end of my stay.

If you have an interest in becoming a Munzee player, download their app and then scan the image below to receive 50 points...

Ole Towne Cotton Gin RV Park

I used RV Park Reviews to discover this unique RV park that was once a cotton gin facility. The owner was kind enough to give me a tour of the old plant...

It's simply amazing what you can run into while traveling.

Alligators & Sand Dunes

When you think Colorado, you probably don't think alligators and sand dunes. Yet, within a twenty minute drive of my campsite, I discovered both.

Colorado Gators Reptile Park - is a family owned park that has a surprising variety of reptiles and other critters. As soon as you enter the facility, you are met with a reassuring sign regarding your safety...

And just in case this retirement thing does not work out, I have added "Gator Wrangler" to my resume...

More critters...

Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve - protects the tallest sand dunes in North America. Be sure to visit their website to learn how these dunes were formed.

Note how small the people in the foreground of the photo look as compared to the dunes
(click on photos to enlarge)

San Luis State Wildlife Area

Although I really enjoyed my time in the Montrose, CO area this summer, it was time to move on. I have decided to take a six week road trip traveling through southeast Colorado into Texas and then work my way west to Arizona for the winter.

My first stop is the San Luis State Wildlife Area near Mosca, CO. As pointed out on their website, the park's water system has become cost prohibitive so there is no water or sewer. However, the sites are available at no charge along with 11 television stations (via antenna), Verizon 4G service and free 50 amp power!  "Life is good"

View from the RV

Home, sweet home

Lake Havasu Heat

Yesterday, I dropped my Jeep and RZR off at the Havasu Falls RV Resort in Lake Havasu City where I will be spending the winter. It was 104 degrees F at 7:30 p.m. Glad I will not be going back until November 1st.

On I-40 my truck developed a vibration that suggested I might have a tire separation. I stopped at a Big O dealership in Kingman and sure enough, the right rear outside tire was separating. What I was not expecting was the left rear inside tire had no air in it due to a large hole; the outside tire was holding it up so that it was not easily visible. Three hours and $1400 later, I had a new set of tires on the truck.

Extreme Rock Crawling

As soon as I up-fit my jeep with a winch, 40” tires, roll cage, high lift jack, first aid kit, oil absorbent material and a bucket, I can try these trails west of Montrose, CO...

The following photos are not dead-ends but the beginning of the trail aptly named Boulder Canyon...

I am told it gets worse the further you go!  I think the bucket is for when you throw up.

Sign of Autumn

The aspens up on the Grand Mesa east of Grand Junction are beginning to display their fall colors...

Click on photos to enlarge

Although the temperature was in the mid-90s in the valley, it was 64 degrees at ~11,000 feet. As you drive down the south side of the mesa, you pass the beautiful Island Lake...