Our Blog, Blowin-in-the-Wind, is being suspended..................

 

After almost ten years and with hundreds of posts, Morey & Ruthie are moving on to a new medium.  At the beginning, our kids said, "why don't you just post on Facebook?"  But we didn't agree.  Our blog has been fun to create and to publish.  We've loved the comments from our followers, and this blog has been a great reference, but it's time.

It is because we're just too busy doing...not blogging...

Such incredible experiences, incredible places, incredible travels.......

Years from now, we will look at our life travel blogs, and think...."WOW, what a life!"  And with that, we say goodbye for now.  Thank you for EVERYTHING.

And there's so much more !

 We've continued our travels to our beloved West!  First to Ridgway in Colorado, then Needles Canyonland, then the Kanab area, and finally back to Zion National Park.  Too much time camping, hiking, and marveling at all of the beauty that this wonderful country has granted to us.  So no tales of our adventures, just some great photos to remember.

Hiking near Ridgway Colorado

Our PRIMO campsite at Needles

Slot Canyons near Kanab

One of our HAPPY PLACES, Zion National Park

Mueller State Park

 

We discovered why Mueller is so highly rated.  As nice as the campground was at Heaton Bay, Mueller State Park is Primo.  Over 100 campsites climbing the mountain with views of Pikes Peak to the East.  And with over 50 miles of hiking trails, we enjoyed walking the many trails.  We chose the perfect week as the Aspens were in full color, the sky was so blue, and the temperatures were in the 60s.  Pictures tell only part of the story; we'll be back.

Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument

 

29 million years ago, Redwoods growing in Colorado were covered by ash from a nearby Volcano.  Over time, the wood of these giant trees were replaced by minerals.  The petrified stumps were then "discovered" in the late 19th century, and this area soon became a tourist attraction.  Competing owners who managed this land did everything they could think of to increase revenues; they even used dynamite to help break up the stumps into small pieces that could be sold to the tourists.  Fortunately, but almost too late, 50 years ago, this area became protected by becoming a National Monument.  

Up in the Mountains of Colorado

 

After 500 miles of driving from Kansas, we arrived at Heaton Bay Campground at over 9,500ft elevation.  Oh, I should mention, that our GPS routed us off of Interstate 70 one exit early and sent us on a drive across the Dillion Dam... well almost...A dam Ranger stopped us and asked us why we didn't see the sign that said "NO RVs".  What sign?  So how do we get to the campground?....."our problem."  Back on I-70 one more exit and then to Heaton Bay...

no problem....WOW!

Heaton Bay is one of the best National Forest campgrounds that we have ever stayed at.  Paved sites and even electric (which came in very handy as the temp dropped to as low as 27 on a couple of nights).  Great views of the Dillion Reservoir, and right on the paved bike path that surrounds the reservoir as it travels 18 miles and connects to many other paths.

With our full time RVer friends, we biked and hiked.  First day out, we biked 10 miles out to the Copper Mountain I-70 Exit.  A beautiful trail...we even spotted a Moose!  Next day we hiked 4 miles on the McCulloch Gulch trail; 700 feet of climbing to 11,000ft elevation on a fairly rocky trail -- We could tell we hadn't acclimated to the altitude.  Then a stop for ice cream in Breckenridge.  

We continued to bike and hike, all in beautiful surroundings.

Great stops along the way to Colorado

 We said goodbye to the NJ shore and started our motorhome adventure for this Fall.  

First stop was at Fort Frederick where we set up camp and then biked part of the West Maryland Rail Trail, and then the next morning, a portion of the C&O Canal ride.  Needed to limber up for our upcoming travels.

We next positioned ourselves by "camping" at an Ohio Turnpike Service Center, so we would get to Cuyahoga National Park to bike their rail trail.  The highlight was a stop at a local veggie and fruit market where we filled our bike paniers...Morey did have to return the cantaloupe to the store...a little too much?

Then to Mohican State Park in Ohio for a great campsite along the river; then a hike and we were back on the road.

 Next was a two day stop in Hermann, MO; an old German settlement which became one of the first wine producing areas in the United States -- so of course a walk up the hill to the Winery for snack and a bottle; a rest after biking the KATY trail, which runs across the state of Missouri.  We did a couple of segments which included stops along the Missouri River where Lewis & Clark camped.

 

And maybe the most exciting part of the trip to get west?  A stop at Mushroom Rock State Park in Kansas.  And then we camped at an ACE campground nearby to relax and celebrate the New Year.

           

It's time to pack up & head west

 It's September, so it's RV time!  Our plans are made and we can't wait to hit the road.

But first we must say, considering COVID-19, quarantining and being careful and safe; Summer was good.  

From "hitting the beach" to celebrating birthdays to a sojourn to Pennsylvania's Grand Canyon and to flying RC planes and rockets....all was very good.

 

   

  

 

You get what you pay for?!

     We've been storing our motorhome in Tuckahoe for the last ten years at the same storage facility.  Our monthly rentals have been going up until this year.  What's always been a problem....10ft wide parking spots for our 8 1/2ft RV, reached a new closeness.  Our storage fees did go down this year......

BIW Performs ! 2,721 miles in 5 days - We're Home

Hard to believe that less than a week ago, we were having lunch at the Polo Club Tack Room on a beautiful Saturday afternoon.  As all of the COVID-19 news continued to intensify, we started talking about heading home early.  By the time we biked back to Lake Cahuilla Campground after a 26 mile bike ride, we both decided we needed to leave in the morning.

So Sunday morning, we left.  Our week planned in Sedona, and some interesting stops on the way home will be rescheduled for next Spring.

Five days of driving, got us home before dark.  Ruthie shared much more of the driving of our motorhome......we couldn't have made this drive so quickly without her. 

We knew we had made the right decision, as we continued to listen to the news.  Stopping the second night at Walmart in Amarillo, Texas really opened our eyes.  The shelves were bare as panic has set in all over the U.S.

We'll all survive.  So glad to be home and well stocked so we can stay in our local town and enjoy the beach, biking, and walking on the boardwalk.

Our travels are cut short

The world tossed up a curve ball.  The Corona Virus (COVID-19), which originated in China has traveled throughout the world.  Hoped to be contained near its origin, this didn't happen.  Being faced with continuing our travels with uncertainty for the near future, we  have decided to head home.

So we drive back to the East coast, 2,800 miles.  It has been a great trip....now it's time to be home.