Coast to Coast

      I've always wanted to visit and photograph all 50 states,  not to just claim, I've visited a state by passing through an airport or state on a train.  In August 2013 I only had two states, Vermont and New Hampshire left to visit and photograph, so my wife Belle and I set out in our Ford Ranger loaded with a Four Wheel Camper Eagle, to travel across these United States.  Our home is  in Everett, Washington, so we were about to head out east to the Maine coast, during the fall, then south to Cherokee, North Carolina, where we would visit with my wives family.  After a two week visit, we would head home back to the west coast and Washington on a southern route, all taking us two months, covering 11,000 miles through 22 states.

Washington - Oregon - Idaho - Utah - Wyoming
August 28, 2013  Wednesday Yakima River Canyon, Washington
      The two years of planning for this trip is over, and at 1:30 pm we were now packed and pulling out of the driveway. Heading up I-90 over the Cascade Mountains for Eastern Washington where our first days destination was the Yakima River Canyon and the Big Tree Campground along the Yakima River.  Mighty hot and humid on this side of the mountains so we had a  warm breeze all night which was fine for sleeping, but I was too hyped to get a good rest, kept waking up and just lying there, all too excited about this trip.

Our campsite along the Yakima River, at the Big Tree Campground.   Not too many trees out here to shaded us from the sun, most the campsitesare out in the open.  Relaxed on the shaded  side of our camper .

Yakima River Canyon.

August 29 Thursday  Farewell Bend, Oregon

   Today we continued south through Washington along I-82, across the Columbia River into Oregon where we connected with I-84.  Our  second night was at Farewell Bend State Park along the Snake River.  This is one of our favorite campgrounds in Oregon.  The further South we got,  the warmer the temperatures became.   Farewell Bend is the location, where historicly the Oregon Trail leaves the Snake River and proceeds North up over the Blue Mountains towards the Columbia River.  We had a great campsite perched up on the banks overlooking the Snake River. Another warm night and I sleep great tonight.

This was our view from our campsite at Farewell Bend State Park along the Snake River in Oregon.

August 30, 2013   Friday Heyburn, Idaho
     Got an early start this morning heading for Ontario, Oregon. That low morning sun sure gives the barren rolling hills some sharp textures with warm tones and character.  Upon entering Idaho, we go from traveling south and finally in an easterly direction, now heading more towards our destination in Maine.  Southern Idaho is pretty flat and barren, today driving for 241 miles, we end up in Heyburn, Idaho at a private campground named Country RV Village along I-84.   It was a bit noisy with the busy Interstate to one side of the campground and hay fields to the other side.  Fortunately we were on the hay side so it was not as loud.

Belle relaxes along the newly plowed  fields where we were camped under some trees giving us relief from the 90 degree temperatures.

My shadow takes a walk along the stacks of hay.

August 31, 2013  Saturday  Lyman, Wyoming

     Today we headed south from Idaho into Utah, where in  the southern part of Idaho, we left  an ancient salt lake which was once located in this now flat barren valley.   The water here has all dried up over time and after thousands of years only remains a barren desert. The winds constantly blow the sand around the low growing brush reforming the low rolling hills of today.  At one time century's ago this area looked like the Great Salt Lake in Utah of today.

Getting into Utah was a welcome sight were we began to see more mountains, as we drove into Utah before connecting with I-80 and again heading east into Wyoming. It was really nice to be driving through canyons and climbing up into some mountains as we crossed over Wyoming state line. Now we were up on the high plateaus of barren hills and passing small cowboy towns. Tonight we stopped at a KOA campground in Lyman, Wyoming, a real nice quiet campground about a mile off the Interstate. We had lots of space around us out here in an open grassed field. I do not know how we lucked out, but we did not get stuck among big trailers or among rows of tents, There were just two other tent campers around us. We were equally surprised to find this pleasant campsite available considering this was a Sunday on a Labor Day weekend.

Climbing through the Wyoming high canyons,we were traveling with all the truckers this  Labor Day weekend.  I guess the truck drivers do not get Labor Day off or they were all rushing home for Labor Day.

Our great campsite at the KOA campground in Lyman, Wyoming.

Sept 1 Sunday
Lyman, Wyoming 230 miles today
Lyman KOA Campground
   We got a late start this morning, just stayed up to late last night visiting with our neighboring camper.  

   Today we sure found a lot of semi trucks on the interstate.  I counted an average of 12 trucks per mile.  Laramie is where we stopped for the night at another KOA campground.  This campground was located right along the interstate highway, not as nice as the one we stayed at last night, not much shade, more like a parking lot and noisy.  Laramie, a very dusty town from the blowing winds traveling across the high plateaus.  This is also a college town with no lack of pizza parlors and hamburger drive In's.

The Sinclair Refinery in Sinclair, Wyoming 

Snow Fences on the  Beunea Wild Life Refuge in Wyoming.

Interstate 80, at Medicine Bow Mountains in Wyoming.       

Nebraska - Iowa - Missouri - Illinois 
Sept 2  Monday   Labor Day

Laramie, Wyoming

KOA Campground

    Laramie is up at 7000 feet, so today we worked our way back down from the high country to Nebraska's flat grassy landscape, where fields of corn was all the eyes could see.   The air had become muggy and hot.  We also entered the central time zone where we lose an hour today, making it latter then we had planned when arriving at Wind Mill State Park in Gibbon, Nebraska.  The park was real pretty and the campsites great with no crowds since labor day weekend was now over.

A sign found in a Nebraska rest stop along the interstate.

  Corn Fields in Gibbon, Nebraska

 

Old Farm house, up For Sale in Denman, Nebraska

 

 Belle and Mike relaxing, at the Windmill State Park in Nebraska.

Sept 3    Tuesday

Gibbon,Nebraska

Windmill State Park

 Ponds within the Windmill State Park

   

    This a beautiful grass treed park, the Windmill State Park has several antique windmills located among several ponds. It was not until we crossed over the Missouri River over into Iowa that we saw hills reappearing again, now covered with rows of corn on rolling hills. 

We left the interstate highway and were now traveling on back roads, giving us a closer look at all of this farming country. 

                       Corn Fields in Iowa.

   Truck hauling  one of the blades for power wind mill.

  

  In Creston, Iowa we found the Green Valley State Park 

Campground over looking a 360 acre lake and what a show the sun put on for us at sunset.

     Sunset at Green Valley State Park, Iowa.

               

Sept 4 Wednesday

Creston, Iowa

Green Valley State Park

Our new state today is Missouri were we continue to travel along the back roads. Today its on to the Mark Twain State Park on the Mark Twain Lake, near the town of Florida. Mark Twain was born in Florida, Missouri and lived there for three years before relocating to Hannibal along the Mississippi River. The town in Florida is now gone and only a monument remains marking Mark Twains' birthplace along with a few other residential homes.

Mark Twain birth placein Florida, Missouri.

    

 Buzzards at Mark Twain State Parkin Missouri.

                 

      Today Sept 5  Thursday is a very humid and hot day.  We stopped at Louisiana, Missouri, a historic river town along the Mississippi River.  This once active riverfront town is economically  being reborn.  Many of the storefronts were closed, but there is a lot of evidences of remodeling  being performed behind those closed doors. 

 
        

 Downtown Louisiana along  the Mississippi River.

• 

Mississippi River crossing into Illinois from Louisiana, Missouri.

 

Lunch along the Mississippi River.

      Here in Louisiana is where we crossed the Mississippi River over into Illinois and traveled south on the Great River Road for several miles before heading east to Hardin and the Illinois River that parallels the Mississippi River for some miles before turning northeasterly.  We continued along route 16 E pretty much across Illinois to a Corp of Engineers Campground.  The Coons Campground is in a spectacular park located on Shelbyville Lake.  Only negative part of the park was dealing with the bugs that just about carried us away.

River Tug pushing its' barge up the Illinois River.

Lots of roadwork across Illinois.

  

Route 16 Hillsboro, Illinois.

     Lake Shelbyville in Illinois.          

The nats and locus where swarming all over.

  

Indiana - Ohio - Pennsylvania - New York

On Sept 6th Friday we traveled into Indiana. This weekend is a bit quieter then last weekend, labor day weekend. It has been hot and humid through these middle America states. Muggy and full of Nat's and flies. The locus that come out of the ground to mate every 7 years are out this year and are every where making buzzing noises. The nights are full of crickets also adding their sounds, so it is not quiet day or night, but it's natures sounds and that beats the yelling of campers and barking dogs. We followed Route 46 to Bloomington home of the University of Indiana. Here we discovered we had lost another hour at the Indiana state line, we are now in the eastern time zone. What we thought would be a short day of driving was becoming a longer day as it was getting latter sooner. It was time to make a slight change in plans and head south a short ways on route 7 to a campground we did not have in our plans. The Versailles State Park turned out to be a grass covered treed gem, located around a beautiful lake.

Water flowing over the Dam at Versailles Lake

Kayaker's paddle in mist on a river feeding the lake.

Trail along the shores of Versailles Lake.

     We entered Ohio today Sept 7, Saturday where we got back on the interstate after traveling the back roads through the corn and soy bean farming country of Indiana.  Passing around Cincinnati, we caught I-71 going north to Columbus.  Exiting the interstate north of Columbus and drove another 15 miles over the Ohio countryside to Mt Gilead State Park.  The park, we would rate near the bottom, as it was not a well maintained park with mostly full time campers and poor worn out facilities.  On the plus side we had a nice campsite overlooking a pond surrounded by trees.  The campground was very quiet and on Saturday nights they projected movies outdoor.

Our campsite at Mt Gilead State Park in Ohio overlooking a pond.

Rest stop in Austintown, Ohio off, of I-80.

      On Sunday Sept 8th, the humidity hit 100% and the early morning fog turned from a wet mist to a down pour which followed us through most of Ohio.  Returning to I-71 we joined the parade of  Brown football fans all decked out in their gear driving to Cleveland for the game.  Before Cleveland we exited to I-76 for Youngstown where we changed to I-70 and soon entered the state of Pennsylvania where the skies cleared up.  At Barkenville we exited off the interstate onto route 8 where we enjoyed the winding mountain roads and scenery along the Allegheny Mountains to the state of New York.  The states are now getting smaller, so we were able to get through 3 states today before stopping at the Hidden Valley Campground, which was hidden in the mountain farming country of New York. 

The Allegheny River along the banks of Tionesta, Pennsylvania.

 Route 62 passing through Warren, Pennsylvania.

A farm located in Hidden Valley, New York outside the entrance of the Good Sam, Hidden Valley Campground.

     

        On Monday Sept 9th we continued on through the New York country side, but had to cut our day short when I left the car lights on as we shopped at a Walmart. We had to wait an hour for a battery jump and then another bit of time to have the battery checked. It all checked out OK, so I hope the problem was me leaving the lights on. By now it was getting late, so with some advise we received, we camped nearby, north of Horseheads, NY at the Watkins Glen State Park. A park with a natural gorge full of hiking trails and waterfalls. Arriving a bit late in the afternoon and me being so tired from the late night before, from editing my photos, I went to bed early this night when the rain started falling.   

A rainy day out along I-86 outside Horseheads, New York.

       The next morning, Tuesday Sept 10, we woke to a continuous heavy rainfall and dark skies. The grounds were water socked and muddy, so I did not get to hike down into the gorge this morning as I had planed. We just continued east to Vermont, most of the day driving in a northern New York rain. Even with the rain, northern New York was beautiful, with it's rolling green hills. In Vermont we found the same tree covered hills with clean farm structures all nicely painted and big beautiful homes. Off course the sun did reappear, to help make the countryside that much more colorful. We camped outside the town of Bennington, in Woodford State Park located around the Adams Reservoir off highway 9. The park was pretty much empty with only two other campers in our tree covered loop. When the sun laid to rest, the skies grew dark and our primitive campground became completely silent and pitch black. 

Woodford State Park, Vermont

 

       Through the night it actually got warmer and by morning Sept 11, Wednesday we woke to muggy and hot air. The temperatures climbed to 97 degrees by ten in the morning. So slowly we moved through these energy sapping conditions, we did visit a few covered bridges and an old country store while driving through many of the unique old picturesque towns found in Vermont. 

Artist decorate these animal statues that are displayed all over the town of Bennington, Vermont.

Henry Covered Bridge outside of Bennington, Vermont.

 Arlington, Vermont farm along Route 7.

Met an artist from New York painting the Sandgate Covered Bridgein Arlington, Vermont

Ludlow, Vermont on Route 100.

        Finished our day in Quechee, Vermont, where we stayed at the Quechee State Park. Here I took a hike down into the gorge which was a short hike, but steep. When I climbed back up to the campsite I was dead tired and soaking wet from the humid heat. A horrendous thunder and lightning storm lite up the skies and cracked above us, dropping water in buckets just after we had dinner. But within an hour the noise was over, resulting in dropping the temperatures and humidity to cool us off for the evening, but the rain did continue singing us to sleep. 

Ottauquechee River at the floor of the Quechee Gorge in the Quechee State Park along Highway 4.

       

Exhausted from climbing back up out of the Quechee Gorge in 98% humidity, I just collapsed before a lightening and thunder storm cooled me off.

      Sept 12th, Thursday was a foggy morning and overcast through out the day as we entered into New Hampshire.  A day to celebrate for me, as I have now visited and photographed all 50 states.  Today was a day of driving into and among the White Mountains all day.  The roads through New Hampshire were a bit unstable giving my truck shocks a work out.  We traveled along the Kangcamugus Highway stopping at all the overlooks to view the falls and rivers along the way.   We spent the night at the Covered Bridge Campground, a forest service campground.

Traveling through Vermont along Route 4 on a wet foggy day.

Sabbaday Fall, New Hampshire

 

 

Lower Falls along Kancamagus Highway       On September 13th, Friday, all I can say, is it another rainy day as we crossed the state of Maine to Arcadia National Park. Not too many photos today. Camped at a private campground, one of the best campground so far outside of Bar Harbor, Maine. It was the Bar Harbor Campground, where we will stay for two days.

 

       Old Fort Western, built in 1754 during the American Revolution to promote settlement in this area along the Kennebec River.

We did stop in Augusta, Maine and walk along the Kennebec River which flows through the city. 

The rain continued to fall as we passed through the wet streets of Belfast, Maine.

Our campsite at Bar Harbor Campground located outside the Acadia National Park.

      On the next day September  14th, Saturday the weather was a lot nicer with blue skies.  We drove all over Mt Desert Island where Acadia National Park is located along the Atlantic coastline.  A full day of viewing the crushing waves along the scenic coastline, touring a lighthouse, observing the unloading of lobster in the many coves and finished the day with a terrific lobster dinner.  

                     

     Atlantic coastline at Schooner Head within the park.

Thunder Hole Overlook along the Atlantic Coast in the Acadia National Park, Maine.

 

 Beaver Dam pond.

 North East Harbor

South East Harbor

   

   

     Bass Harbor Head  Lighthouse,on the western side of Mt Desert Island.

      Bernard is located on the western shores of Bass Harbor.

Unloading lobsters in Pretty Marsh Harbor.

                          

 Bar Harbor, on the northeastern shores of Mt. Desert Island.

  

        Today Saturday, Sept 15th is our turn around day.  We have come as far east as we had planned.  Now we start on our second leg of our journey, through heading south to Cherokee, North Carolina.  This will be a low mileage day as we inch our way south on highway 1, all day in bumper to bumper traffic on these two lane roads.  Many small quaint coastal towns to stop at along the way and enjoy.  Our day ended in Provol, Maine at Bradbury Mountain State Park. Can not say to much about these Maine parks, they charge a lot for nothing. 

The Penobscot Narrows Bridge over the  Penobscot River, connects the towns of Prostpect and Bucksport on Route 1, in Maine.

A boat yard in Rockport, Maine.

Harbor of Rockport,  Maine

The rain returned on Sept 16th Monday for most of the day.  We did get a chance to visit the Portland Light House outside Portland, Maine.

 Portland Head Lighthouse at Fort Williams Park on the  Maine coast. 

We continued down on the coastal Highway 1A, getting a real local taste of the area on this highway.  Lots of red lights with slow traffic continuously for 150 miles, but we were not in any hurry, so we did get to see a lot of the details of the little towns as we slowly drove through them and the  local countryside.  Stopped early for the day around  2:30 PM at the Salisbury State Beach Park Campground to avoid going through Boston during the rush hour.                      Salisbury State Reserve, MassachusettsRiver canal flowing along the reserve beach.

An empty early morning beach parking lot.  

Our campsite in the  Salisbury Reserve.

The early morning sunlight at Salisbury Beach, Massachusetts.

Massachusetts - Rhode Island - Connecticut - New York  New Jersey      September 17th, Tuesday - We made it around Boston with only a few stops or slow downs on our way down to Plymouth where we viewed the Plymouth Rock in a cage and the Mayflower II at dock side.

Plymouth Rock in Plymouth, Massachusetts.

The Mayflower II in Plymouth, Massachusetts.

On the far tip of the Cape Cod National Seashore simultaneous moonrise and sunset.

Fox out patrolling the beach

Vibrant  colorful Sunset

On this morning September 18, Wednesday, we headed for Rhode Island where we stayed at the Fisherman's Memorial State Park.  Arriving there early in the afternoon we were able to visit the surrounding area of Narragansett Beach and Galilee Harbor.        That evening  we witnessed another beautiful sunset and moonrise at Pt Judith nearby. An old lobster boat in Gaililee,  Rhode Island.

Sailboat sets out of Galilee Harbor into the 
Block Island Sound for a sunset cruise.

Moonrise over the Point Judith Lighthouse, Rhode Island.

From Rhode Island it was onto the Coast Guard Academy on September 19th,Thursday in New London, Connecticut. We visited the museum and part of the Academy grounds. It was a bit congested in New London, which we are finding out is what the East coast is all about so we continued on our way, instead of staying in the city that night. Went on and camped at Devils Hopyard State Park still in Connecticut northwest of New London out in the country. There was only one other camper out here this night, so it was pretty quiet.

   Weakapaug,  Rhode Island

Decorated Tree of plastic items in the yard of a Watch Hill resident.

Watch Hill, Rhode Island beach area off harbor.

 Coast Guard Academy in New London, Connecticut

Devils Hopyard State Park, Connecticut

We were up early in the morning September 20th, Friday. A fogy morning and when we passed Lake Hayward, we were treated with such a beautiful sight of the sun trying to break through the fog. Fogy morning with the sun trying to brighten up  Lake Hayward in Connecticut

  
          The fog started to break as we traveled on Route 66 through Middleton where we continued on to the town of West Cornwell on Route 128 in the northwestern corner of  Connecticut.

    West Cornwell, Connecticut

Saint Bridget Catholic Church in Sharon, Connecticut.

Covered Bridge at 

Kent Falls State Park,

 Connecticut.

Bulls Bridge, Connecticut over the Housatonic River.

Swaitswood State Park, New Jersey

Grist Mill and Mill Pond in the Swaitswood State Park, New Jersey

Today September 21st, Saturday was a turn around day or going in circles day. We kept missing turn offs, because of bad signage. But then getting turned around also helped us see some of the villages and countryside we may never have gotten to see. We tried to follow the Delaware River and Canal South along the New Jersey side, until we arrived in Milan and could not get through the town because of a parade. Here we found ourselves getting in line to be part of this local small town parade. Before we had a chance to learn how to smile and wave to the parade viewers we found our way out of line and crossed over the Delaware River into Pennsylvania where drove down south a short ways before crossing back into New Jersey. This must of been the weekend of community events, as all day we were detoured through several towns because of these parades, art fairs, bed races and even a wedding ceremony right off the main road through one town. We ended the day at the Beaver Valley Family Campground in Otis, Pennsylvania after also getting lost looking for this campground.

 

 

 

Hope, New Jersey on Route 519.

Hutchinson, New Jersey on route 621 along the Deleware River.

Phillipsburg, New Jersey across Deleware River to the state of Pennsylvania. .

Local Pool Hall and bridge entrance to Riegeisville, New Jersey along banks of Deleware River.

Milford, New Jersey where we almost entered a parade while driving through the town.

Canal town of Frenchtown, New Jersey.

 D&R Canal passes Lumberville, Pennsylvania off Route 32.

Beaver Valley Campground in the hills of Pennsylvania.

        After raining all night, this morning September 22nd,     Sunday we woke to clear skies, as we proceeded to Lancaster, Pennsylvania and into Amish country.  Off course being here on a Sunday, we found all the Amish business's were closed, because the Amish do worship on Sunday.  We did find one place open and they were also offering buggy rides,  so we took a tour through the countryside.  Our buggy driver mentioned that he had  left the church and he was full of interesting information about the Amish life style.  We chased buggy's all afternoon photographing the buggy's, the countryside and their farms, which were so clean and well maintained.  We stayed at a campground in Ronk.  Our campsite was backed off the main road at about 50 feet away, so we could view, photograph and hear the pleasant sounds of horse hoofs pounding the pavement as they pulled the buggy,s way into the night.  The young Amish must also use Sunday nights to raise hell.  All night buggy's were passing by with their occupants joyfully talking loud and singing.  Some buggy's even had sound systems with loud booming speakers.  It was kind of entertaining to watch and hear them way after midnight.

Amish Country in the town of Intercourse, Pennsylvania.

Carriage buggy rides through the Amish countryside.

Bird-in-Hand, Pennsylvania

                                               Ronk, Pennsylvania

Paradise, Pennsylvania

Bird-in-Hand, Pennsylvania

Flory's Cottages & Camping in Ronk, Pennsylvania.

Pennsylvania - Maryland - Virginia - West Virginia - Kentucky - Tennessee - North Carolina

    Today Monday September 23rd, we came upon the Gettysburg Battlefield National Historic Park, by mistake, so we spent some time driving the 26 mile tour through the park. 

Gettysburg Battlefield Park, Pennsylvania

 

  

 
     Next we crossed into Maryland where I hiked along part of the C and O Canal in Williamsport, where the National Park is restoring some of the locks.  

Trail along canal

         That night we stopped nearby at Fort Fredrick State Park, toured the fort and stayed at their primitive campground along the Potomac River.   A real restful place with only one other camper.

 Fort Fredrick State Park

 

     

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Fort Frederick was built in 1756 of native sand stone. The fort has been used as a place for refuge for Settlers from  nearby raiding Indians and also used as a prisoner of war camp during the civil war.  In 1922, the fort  become Maryland's first state park.

Our campsite along the
     Potomac  River.

 

McCoy Ferry, Maryland

      September 24th, Tuesday was a cool and foggy morning with a mist coming off the Potomac River, which we could view from the backdoor of our camper.  Today was a day of interstate driving from Maryland through West Virgina and into Virginia.  Stopping early at a private campground, the Buckhorne Campground 5 miles off  I 64 in Clifton Forge.  

  

  Buckhorne Campground in Clifton Forge, Virginia.

     Today September 25th, Wednesday was a day of wrong turns putting us up in the Allegheny Mountains.  Up in this part of the country we did see a hint of color in the trees, beginning to say Fall is here.  Driving these roads sure gave me a good feel of these West Virginia mountains and their swinging roads. Today was a fogy, rainy and cloudy day right up to when we bedded down for the night,  at the Balock State Park.

Allegheny Mountains looking down on Interstate 64.

Neola in the West Virginia mountains.

Marlinton, West Virginia

Cranberry Glades (left)  and

Falls of Hills Creek (below) both in West Virginia.

 

 Rainelle, WestVirginia

A valley overlook in the  Babcock State Park, West Virginia

The Glade Creek Grist Mill and campground in the Babcock State Park, West Virginia.

       Woke, September 26th, Thursday to clear skies and many hours of driving for a short distance.  It was not because we got lost, it was because these mountain roads are so full of curves, with steep grades.  Seemed like we followed coal trucks all day.  Also passed through many shut down coal mines and most of the towns were basically out of business.  Homes were really run down and the majority of the business's posting closed signs.

New River Gorge, West Virginia

A coal mine in Pineville and mounds of coal piled up high at  a plant outside Varney both in the mountains of West Virginia.

  

Mountain roads of West Virginia.

A train hub along Route 52 in Williamson, West Virginia. 

Huge tanks along the river bank protect the town of Williamson, Kentucky from flooding.

      Tonight we found a campsite in the Jennie Wylie State Resort.  Here in Kentucky state parks are called resorts.  We arrived here late at 6 PM and found a quiet campground along a dried up creek.

Our campsite along a creek in the Jennie Wylie State Resort, Kentucky.

        September 27th, Friday this morning  we found no skies, just clouds and fog.  But as we got further south to the Natural Bridges State Park in Kentucky we emerged from the fog, it was like coming out of a cave to bright glowing light, we were blinded with the sunshine and clear blue skies.  At this park I climbed up a steep trail only a mile long, but straight up to the natural bridge above.   It probably took me one and a half hours climbing up and only half an hour to come back down the mountain.  

Natural Bridge State Park, Kentucky.

    

      

Bus Stop in Levi, Kentucky.

 Barn along country road Route 30 in Green Hall, Kentucky. 

          Made our way through the Kentucky mountains to the Cumberland Fall Resort Park.  They call their state parks, resorts here in Kentucky.   

Cumberland River before the water flows over the rocks forming the Cumberland Falls.

 Cumberland Falls Resort Park

Honeybee, Kentucky

 Rainbow glowing Cumberland Falls

       Today September 28th Saturday was suppose to be one more night camping before getting to family in Cherokee, North Carolina but the campground at Cades Cove National Park in the Smokey Mountains was  full, so we headed  on over the mountains at sunset to Cherokee, a day earlier then we had planned.    It took us over 4 weeks to get here, we have now  traveled 6,400 miles from Everett, Washington.

Cades Cove National Park, Tennessee

    The traffic through Cades Cove was a surprise.  This was a Saturday, but this late in the season, we did not expect full campgrounds and bumper to bumper cars snailing through the park loop.  The loop is only eleven miles, but it took us one and a half hours and we did not even get out of the truck.  Shot all my photos from within the truck.  Of course the truck was standing still for much of that time.

  

  Smoky Mountains National Park, North Carolina at sunset.

        We spent  eleven days visiting Belle's family in Cherokee, North Carolina.  Also visited Margie, our daughter-in-law's family living not far from Cherokee.  Had to change the oil after traveling the 6400 miles across country.  Had to also replace a tire, which I knew was getting balled, but did not know I was also traveling on a partially exposed steel belt, I hope it was only for a short while.  The rubber was partially gone on the inside side edge of the tire.  Guess we were lucky we had no blow out.

Cherokee, North Carolina

   

Occonaluftee Riverflows through the Cherokee.

Oconnaluftee Indian Village - Cherokee, North Carolina

John Ed Walkingstick culture craftsmen at Indian Village.

                                                                                                                            Mask Carver

 Bates Gap Tree Farm in Christmas Valley   

 

Smoky Mountains at sunset from the 

Blue Ridge Parkway in North Carolina.

       Today October 9th - Wednesday, we leave Cherokee and head for South Carolina to start our return journey back to the west coast and Washington State.  In South Carolina we traveled through the northwestern part of the state following route 11 past  some fine state parks.  One we stayed at was Calhoun Falls State Park on the Richard Russell Lake in the Northwest corner of the state. 

Table Rock State Park near Cleveland, South Carolina on highway 11.

American Beauty - Berry (Callicarpa Americana) growing in Table Rock Park.

 

Little Eastatoee Creek, South Carolina off Route 11.

Richard Russell Lake along shores of the Calhoun Falls State Park.

Campsite overlooking Lake Russell.

On October 10th - Thursday, we entered Georgia and traveled across the states northern region back to the southern end of the Appalachian Mountains. Here we camped at Fort Mountain State Park. The park was about full, as we received one of the last sites. Because of the Federal Governments shut down, which closed all the federal campgrounds, leaving only the state and private campgrounds open we were fortunate to find a camping space.

In Anderson County, South Carolina the dirt has a rich red hue.

Trail around the lake in  Fort Mountain State Park on Georgia  Route 52.

Campsite up on the hillside over looking the campground.

     In the morning we headed down the mountain early on October 11th - Friday to Chatsworth, Georgia where we followed a portion of the Trail of Tears route to New Echota, which was once the capital of the Cherokee Nation. Now the location of a historic site where we were able to tour the rebuilt site and museum. Back in our ugly American history, the Cherokee's were forced to Oklahoma from the Southeast, many dieing along the Trail of Tears, while this town deteriorated after their forced removal.

  
Appalachian Mountains in Murray County where
Ft. Mountain State Park is locate on Route 52.

  

Route 52 leading into Chatsworth. Murray County building is seen in the distance.

 Home of Chief James Vann who was a Cherokee Indian leader and plantation owner in the Cherokee Nation during the 1790's is located outside of Chatsworth.

New Echota Historic Site, is where the Cherokee Nation Capital was established in Georgia during 1825 and the official beginning of the Trail of Tears.

 Council House in Town Center with interior chambers at left.

 

Van Tavern and Hotel

         From here we crossed into Alabama where we stayed at the Bucket Pocket State Park in the back hills of Alabama. Met some real southern racial red neck people, but they were friendly and interesting. One of our camping neighbors invited us over to his camp fire and we talked way into the night. He came right out and told us he was a racist and red neck. I don't believe in what he said, but it was interesting to hear his viewpoint. A nice family man, with the same goals most of us want for our families, except for his one narrow view.

 

 Waiting for a passing train on Route 11 in Collinsville, Alabama.

Farm in Collinsville, Alabama

Our campsite in Bucket Pocket State Park. (left)A river bed that has gone dry this fall usually flows beside the campground. (below)

   

    Today October 12th - Saturday was spent traveling across Alabama, getting lost on their back roads, but we saw some pretty views of the mountain countryside.  First we drove up to the Jim Lynn Overlook within the Bucket Pocket State Park.

The early morning light focuses through the fog in the Bucks Pocket State Park, Alabama.

Looking down a thousand feet into the valleyfrom up at the Jim Lynn Overlook,in the Bucks Pocket State Park, Alabama. We were camped down there among those trees. We could hear dogs barking and people yelling from up here, a true bucket valley.

Fishing on the Tennessee River near Columbus City, Alabama

          We crossed into the state of Mississippi and stayed at the Tombighee State park near Tupelo.  Being Saturday and a three day weekend, Columbus Day which we did not know about, (not a holiday in the northwest) we had to camp in the overflow camp area which was a parking lot.  Turns out it was a lot quieter and not crowded like the regular campground.

Tombigbee State Park, Alabama

Camping in the overflow area which is the day use parking area till 8:00pm. After that we were alone. Even had an electric outlet and rest room nearby.

        Another muggy day this October 13th - Sunday as we slowly traveled south along the  Natchez Trace Parkway from Tupelo to Jackson, Mississippi.  We stopped at several points of interest, but touring the Owl Creek Mounds and the French Camp were the high lites.  At the Tupelo-Bald Cypress Swamp, our stay was shorter, my hike around the swamp was cut short because the mosquitoes were drawing to much blood.

Driving at a comfortable pace along the Natchesz Trace Parkway through the state of Mississippi.

The Owl Creek Mounds, along the Natchez Trace Parkway is where the Indiansbuilt their home on, so they could see their enemies approaching.

French Camp,  a collection of 1800 period historic structures  now owned by the French Camp Academy

Post Office 

1848 - 1964

Tupelo-Bald Cypress Swamp, Cypress trees can survive living in deep water after taking root in summer when swamp is dry.

      In Jackson we caught I-20 to Vicksburg located along the banks of the Mississippi River.  Then traveling south from Vicksburg we spent the night at the Grand Gulf Military Park also along the Mississippi River. 

Casino and tugs with barges along the Mississippi River in Vicksburg, Mississippi.

Grand Gulf Military State Park on the Mississippi River near Port Gibson, Mississippi.

Our campsite within the park.

   

Fishermen and barge traffic on the Mississippi River in the Grand Gulf Military State Park, Mississippi. 

  

        On October 14th - Monday, we crossed over the Mississippi River to Louisiana where the landscape gets flat. We are now away from the mountains and rolling hills of the last few days. Got our first view of a cotton field where as far as we could see was a sea of white. If it were not for the trees in the distance the cotton fields would blend right into white clouds. 

 River dikes built along the Mississippi River in Delta, Louisiana are used for grazing.

                     Cotton Fields near Tallulah, Louisiana.

Traveling Route 133 going north to Oakridge, Louisiana.

Road signs directing us through Bastrop, Louisiana.

       We stopped early at the Chem-A-Hart Lake State Park.  A pretty deserted park.  The flies and mosquitoes must keep the campers away, because they sure zeroed in on us when we stopped at our site.  Our bodies became welts within minutes.  Lots of standing dirty swampy water in the bayous.  But pretty with the cypress trees growing out of the green and brown water.    

Chemin-A-Haut State Park, Louisiana off, of Route 425. Our mosquito infestedcampground was located in this swamp, so we left and drove around enjoying the sunset.

Sunset over Bussey Brake near Bastrop, Louisiana.

 Interesting lighting display at sunset.

         On October 15th - Tuesday, after a muggy warm restless night we woke up to cloudy skies and headed north for Crossett, Arkansas. I had spent many a days in this area, 30 plus years ago photographing Georgia-Pacific operations in Crossett. Made many trips here over my 13 years with G-P. The old hotel I lived in, I could not find, I think it is now a park, but the GP plants are still there. 

One of the many Georgia-Pacific plants located in this company town and fishing on a river running through Crossett, Arkansas.

     Under the bridge is where we would go to get beer 30 years ago, since the town of Crossett was dry of boos.   A store was there under the bridge and the store is now gone, so Crossett may not be dry anymore.  The fish and game refuge was also closed because of the Federal Government shut down.

Boater heads out on Ouachita River in the Feisentihal Wildlife Refuge outside West Crossett.

       We continued on to Hot Springs, Arkansas northwest of here and on the way we encountered, a southern downpour  which lasted all afternoon.  As usual the National Park, at Hot Springs was  closed because of the Federal Government shut down, so we continued north on highway 7 to Lake Ovachita State Park to retire for the night.  The rain continued hard all night putting me to sleep.  With the rain, the mugginess was just drained right out of the atmosphere, making for a very comfortable night of sleeping.  Arkansas has one of the best state parks and campgrounds.

Trains follow us into Camden, Arkansas on Route 7. 

Swampy Ouachita River outside Camden.

 Visibility on the Arkansas back roads were reduced with the heavy southern rain down pour, that fell all afternoon as we drove to Hots Spring, Arkansas.

 Hot Springs, Arkansas

  Lake Ouachita State Park north of Hot Springs off Route 192.

       Today October 16th - Wednesday, we continued west as we splashed through the rolling hills covered with tree farms.  To bad the sun was not shinning for photo taking.  

     The sun did finally break through at Fort Smith as we crossed the Arkansas River into Oklahoma.  We also noticed a change in the temperature as we moved back north to Cherokee Landing State Park, up along the Ten killer Lake.  Now we have to start putting on more layers of clothing. 

             

Fort Smith, Arkansas

Bridge across the Arkansas River from Fort Dodge, Arkansas to the state of Oklahoma.

        Cherokee Landing State Park near Keys, Oklahoma.                         

       We woke on October 17th - Thursday to some pretty thick fog.  Made our way along these Oklahoma country roads with only 100 feet visibility, we did find the Cherokee Heritage Center.  Here we visited a museum, a pre-European community with homes built in mud and post European community with homes built with logs.  Spent three hours touring the villages and a museum portraying the "Trail of Tears". 

 Early morning fog at Cherokee Landing State Park, Oklahoma.

Cherokee Heritage Center near Talequah.  Here is the interior of a living space in a pre-European Cherokee town.

There is also an area of the Heritage Center where historic buildings depict a post-European Cherokee town.

  

        The Weaver's Cottage

Dominique Chicken

Log Cabins

 General Store

Swimmer School

         
      

The rest of our day was spent driving further north and west to the Osage Indian Reservation where we camped at the Osage State Park. That night was spent with no heater because of no electricity. But warm and comfortable with our warm sleeping bags. 

Spainaw, Oklahoma on Route 20/82.

  Osage Hills State Park, Oklahoma off Route 60.

        Woke October 18th - Friday to more fog and cloudy cold skies.  Today we travel to Dodge City in Kansas, but to get there we first had to encounter rain and snow.  A cold front caught us on the road showering us with snow.   By the time we got to Dodge City the front had passed through and the sun had re-appeared,  as we arrived to melting snow, but the cooler temperatures hung around more then we have witnessed so far during this trip.  We camped at Gunsmoke RV campground outside Dodge City.  A very cold night, but tonight we had the heater to keep us warm.

Early morning sun tries to break through the heavy clouds as we drive near  Powhuska, Oklahoma on Route 60.

         Near Burbank, Oklahoma a well pumps oil along highway 60, which is processed at an oil refinery in Ponca City. 

Wet rodeway on Route 160 through Medicine Lodge, Kansas Rain soon changed to snow in Greenburg, Kansas on Route 183.

Mix rain and snow continued through Ford Kansas.

Sun returned in Dodge City, Kansas.

   

     This morning October 19th - Saturday we packed up quickly, so we could get into our warm truck.  This day turned out to be a long day driving through Kansas on roads that were flat and straight.  We were going to camp in Colorado, but at the campground when we got out to check the area, the mosquitoes were so thick, we jumped back in the car before we would be in need of a blood transfusion.   We ended up driving into the night getting short periods of  sleep at several rest stops and truck stops in Wyoming.

Cattle ranch along Route 50/400 in Charleston, Kansas.

                                    

Flat countryside outside Scott City,Kansas off Route 83.

 

  

Wild turkeys roam the Kansas countryside (left) as an abandoned  farm sits weathering out in the fields. in the weather. (below)

 Birth place of Buffalo Bill, here in Oakley, Kansas south off Interstate 70.

 The roads and horizons in Kansas seem to form straight lines in all directions.

The highway soon has its' ups and downs as we cross into the state of Colorado on Route 385.

Passing a cattle ranch in Weldona, 
Colorado on Route 144.

As we were drove into the night, the skies changed colors and darkened into night.

  Greeley, Colorado on Route 85.

  In Sinclair, Wyoming on I-80, we passed the lights of the Sinclair Oil Refinery.

At dawn we were sleeping at the Lyman Rest Stop in Wyoming, as the I-80 traffic passed by.

                                                        

        Today October 20th - Sunday we woke at a rest stop in Lyman, Wyoming and spent a sleepy day driving through the high plains of Wyoming and mountains of Utah and Idaho.     

 Wyoming mountains surrounding Lyman.

Sunday morning street in Evanston, Wyoming.

Trucker gets ready to pull out of an Evanston truck stop.

Weathered home along Route 16 in Randolph, Utah.

Highway 30 descends into Laketown, Utah.

Bear Lake, Idaho

    

     Montpelier, Idaho on Route 30.

       The days are now starting to get shorter with the sun not popping up until 7:45 AM instead of the 5:30 AM, like it was rising when we started this trip.  Sad to know these are our last days of camping.   We camped at Massacre Rock State Park with our campsite overlooking the American River.  What a beautiful and restful site after two long days of driving.  Slept very well that night.

  

Massacre Rock State Park, Idaho along I-70, overlooks the Snake River from our campsite.

  Wind power along Snake River in Massacre Rock State Park, Idaho.

     From today, October 21st - Monday,most of our driving will be on Interstate highways.  We made it through Idaho and stopping at one of our favorite park, Farewell Bend State Park in Oregon.  Still maybe our number one park, after all the campgrounds we have camped in during the last two months, at last count some 24 different campgrounds.  We can now say the best state parks were found in Oregon, and Arkansas with Maine and Washington being at the bottom of our list.   We stopped early to enjoy the warm 61 degree sunshine and clear afternoon skies, just relaxing and catching up on my photo downloading the rest of the day.

 

Farewell Bend State Park in Oregon of I-84.

     We woke to a beautiful Oregon morning overlooking the Snake River and the Idaho banks on the other side.  Its mornings like this on October 22nd - Tuesday,that I hate to think of this adventure coming to an end.  Today it's all Interstate driving north along the Eastern Oregon Hills, over the Blue Mountains onto Oregon's flat plains along the Columbia River. 

Along I-84 going pass Lima (above) and Durkee, Oregon. (left)

Passing through the Blue Mountains as we descend into Pendleton, Oregon on I-84.

Rolling down I-84 going west, we view the Columbia River at Blalock Canyon, Oregon.

     On our last night we camped at the Deschutes  River State Park with our campsite not more then a 100 feet from the river.  What a great place to spend our last night camping and it won't even be cold like it was 3 days ago.  Snow in Kansas and 30 degree, with winds gusting up to 50 mph while coming through Wyoming.  In Idaho and Oregon we have escaped those elements and were back to 60 degree warm clear weather again, even if it is not normal for this time of the year.

Deschutes River State Park, Oregon.
This where the river feeds into the Columbia River.

Our campsite along the Deschutes River.

       October 23rd - Wednesday, today were stopping at Frank's our son in Washougal, Washington to see Margie and the grandchildren before heading home to Everett to complete this trip on possibly Friday the 25th of October.  That will end our Pacific to Atlantic Ocean journey .  That will be 10,900 miles in 85 days.  That was 70 days of sunshine, 6 days of rain and 1 day of snow, so we lucked out weather-wise.  Our temperatures ranged from 92  to 28 degrees and 100% to 0% humidity.  A great trip, I hate to see it end.  Now for all the editing of 20,000 plus images.  The real fun now begins, reliving the trip over and over with all those photo while editing them.

Mike and Belle Dunn

At the Dalles, Oregon we crossed over to the Washington side of the Columbia River.

Following the Columbia River on the Washington side we drove Route 14 near White Salmon.

The railroad tracks follow close to the main road near Cooks, Washington.

  Bonneville, Washington at the Dam on the Columbia River.

Washougal, Washington on our last sunset of this 85 day journey.