It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas....

Since none of our family lives close by, for Mom, Dad and I, Christmas has always meant going somewhere.  For Mom and Dad it used to mean a plane flight to visit Mom's family or Dad's family.  I think I've mentioned before that I don't fly, so for me, Christmas used to mean a trip to the kennel.

Then, in 2015, everything changed.  Mom and Dad started traveling in the motor home and I get to go, too.  The last 10 days have been very busy for our new Christmas tradition. 

Thursday, December 5 - I got my Christmas visit to the spa for a bath, haircut, pedicure...  you know, the works! 

Friday, December 6 - Mom and Dad had several of the neighbors over to wish them Merry Christmas before we leave. 

Saturday, December 7 - We hosted our friends from the Rainier Ramblers RV Club for their Christmas party.  There were 19 of us for lunch, including me and Hans.  Hans is a service dog who trained at the Prison Pet Partnership, a charity supported by our RV club.  Hans now lives with and helps Bekah, who is a veteran.  Bekah told us all about her life with Hans.  Hans is really smart and helps Bekah with lots of stuff.  He may be smart, but he doesn't know how to Blog. 

Here is a picture of everyone in our club.  If you look close, you can see me in the lower right corner and Hans on the floor left of the coffee table.

Sunday, December 8 - My 13th birthday.  Here's me in front of our Christmas tree.

As soon as Mom took my picture, the Christmas tree came down.  Mom and Dad spent the rest of Sunday and Monday packing the RV.

Tuesday, December 10 - It's departure day!  We had a late start, but finally at 11:00 am we pulled out of the driveway.  This photo was taken shortly after we got on the road.

Mom took a turn at driving along the Columbia River.  It was cloudy, but it stopped raining.  I'm not sure if you can see in the background, but the river was a perfect mirror.  I've never seen it so calm.  I wish that we could have pulled over somewhere to get a good photo, but no where to do that along this stretch of road.

We spent our first night at our usual stop, the Wildhorse Casino in Pendleton, Oregon.  We got in after dark, since we got a late start.   

Wednesday, December 11 - Today we drove from Pendleton to Twin Falls, Idaho.  It was a pretty uneventful day.  We spent our second night at the Snake River Elks.  We stayed there in the summer of 2018.  It's a great place and we highly recommend it, if you are ever in the Twin Falls area.  We just spent a quiet evening watching TV.

Thursday, December 12 - Before we left home, Mom and Dad checked the weather and there was supposed to be a storm move into the Salt Lake City area this weekend.  We were glad that would be ahead of it.  Uh-Oh!  Mom checked the weather this morning and the storm is early.  It looks like we will be driving right into it!!  Near the Idaho/Utah border, we stopped at this rest area.

The highway was just wet and not slick, but we soon drove into fog.  It was hard to see when there were cars ahead of us.  It was a pretty scary for awhile.  Fortunately, by the time we got to Salt Lake City, it was just raining and visibility was better.  We spent the night at the Provo Elks Lodge.

Friday, December 13 - From Provo, we normally take route US Hwy 6/191 over Soldier Summit to I-70 at Green River, Utah.  The forecast for today is snow and probably a lot of it along this route.  There is already a wreck up there and the traffic cameras show the road looking kind of like the rest area did yesterday. 

The road reports look much better to the south.  If we continue south on I-15 to Nephi and then take Utah 28, we can can connect with I-70 at Salina, Utah.  This route is about 60 miles longer, but the road report says that the road is dry.  

While this route is longer, we think the scenery was well worth it.  I'll let you see just a glimpse of all that we saw.

Snow covered mountains just south of Provo

 

This is a very sparsely populated part of Utah.  When we left Salinas, there was a sign "No Services, Next 109 miles".  We were about 60 miles from Salinas and the motor home let out a couple of beeps.  Not a good thing on Friday the 13th.  

There is a little screen on the dash and it said "Low Coolant".  We'd just passed a sign that said "Rest Area 2 miles" and the engine temp gauge showed that was still good, so Dad decided that we'd go into the Rest Area to  check things out.  About 1/2 mile later, the engine quit.  Dad was able to coast us onto the shoulder and out of traffic.  Mom put out our orange cones and Dad checked and we did seem to be low on coolant.  Fortunately, this happened once before, about 2 years ago, so he keeps a spare gallon of coolant in the motor home.  With more coolant, it started right up again and we were on our way.  I'm so glad that my Dad can fix anything.

The yellow sign says "Runaway Truck Ramp"

When we went around the curve.  This guy was having a Friday the 13th day, too.  In case you can't make it out in the picture, it's an 18 wheeler on it's side.  The arrow point to the wheels that are still attached.  There are two HUGE wreckers working to try and get him upright.

A good reminder to pay attention to this sign...

We decided that, overall, we had a pretty good day.

Tonight we are in Moab, Utah.  Mom and Dad went to the auto parts store and bought more coolant.  Dad noticed that the seal on the radiator cap had a small crack, so he bought a new one of those, too.  Hopefully, the new cap will keep the coolant in the radiator and we won't have this problem again, but if we do, we have spare coolant to fill up.

Fort Worth to Tucson

Saturday, December 29 - After two fun-filled weeks, we left Fort Worth this morning and headed west.  It was mostly a driving day and we covered about 350 miles.  That's a long way for us!!  We arrived at Monahans Sandhills State Park near Monahans, Texas just before dark.

Sunday, December 30 - This is our 2nd time to stay at Monahans Sandhills and it's one of my favorite parks.  The campground is right in the middle of the sandhills.

Out for my morning run

After my run, we continued on down the road and stopped at Las Cruses, New Mexico for the night.  Mom and Dad went out for Mexican food.

Monday, December 31 - Today we contined on to Willcox, Arizona and checked in to the Willcox Elks Lodge.  They have a nice campground with actual RV sites with electricity and water.  

We got in early.  Mom had a letter that needed to be mailed, so we walked to the Post Office.  It was clear across town, about 7 blocks.  

They've had snow here and it's pretty cold!

Mom and Dad spent some time in the Lodge with the locals and then we celebrated the New Year along with New York City and went to bed.

Tuesday, January 1, 2019 - Happy New Year!  We woke up to fresh snow.

Just a dusting in town, but snowing hard in the mountains to the south.

Did I mention that it's cold?  32 degrees this morning.

We stopped at the Texas Canyon rest area to take pictures 

of the snow on the rocks.  Pretty, isn't it?

Still a lot of snow to the south.  Fortunately, we are headed west!!

Well, maybe not headed west fast enough.  

That's wet, gloppy snow hitting the windshield.

We are staying at the Gilbert Ray Campground in the Tucson 

Mountain Park.  This is our 4th year to stay here.  It's one of Mom's 

favorite parks.  This is the view out our window. 

Pretty nice sunset to start the New Year.

Next time I'll tell you about our visit to Tucson.

Love,

Doolin

Fort Worth

Saturday, December 15 - We left Shreveport and soon we were in Texas.

We always enjoy the "Welcome to Texas" sign

December 15 - 29 - We spent two weeks in Fort Worth.  The time just flew by with visits to family and lots of fun.  It seems that the humans were constantly eating.  Meanwhile, I had my usual ration of kibble.  Well, maybe I was able to sneak a few bites from my cousin's bowls.  😈

Here are a few of my favorite photos...

Granddaddy waiting for the long horns at the Fort Worth Stockyards.

This cowboy had long horns in his beard

Playing with my cousin Scout 

Our Christmas photo shoot.

Aunt Susan and the Meyer Lemons she's growing on her front porch.

Granddaddy at Risky's BBQ

Christmas Eve at Aunt Susan's

Granddaddy with Dad and Dad's sisters - Aunt Susan and Aunt Mary

Waiting to open Christmas presents

More fun with Scout

Christmas at Aunt Mary's with the whole family 

On the far left - Cousin Scout (white poodle) with Uncle Don and Aunt Mary

 Me with Dad and Mom

Granddaddy seated in the middle

Aunt Susan and Cousin Gus (Yorkie) seated to the right of Granddaddy

Matt and Lena standing in the middle back

On the far right - Chris standing and holding Cousin Watson (Cocker Spaniel) 

and Amanda in front with Cousin Reggie (Cocker Spaniel) 

One of the beautiful sunsets

It was a great visit.  Next time I'll tell you about the next leg of our journey.

Love,

Doolin

Mobile, Alabama to Fort Worth, Texas

Wednesday, December 12 - This morning before we hit the road, we stopped to update our map for all the states we've visited.

We've spent at least one night in every state with a sticker.  There are 34 

stickers.  Only 16 more to go!  Dad has the Canada map on his Amazon wish list.  

We can already put on stickers for four Canadian Provinces.  I think this poodle 

has been to more of North America than many humans!  

Welcome to Louisiana!  Dad wore this shirt so he'd 

coordinate with the sign.  😝

Last week, Mom and Dad were watching TV and there was a show that featured a place that makes charbroiled oysters.  They thought the oysters looked really good.  The restaurant is called Drago's and it is in Metairie, Louisiana (suburban New Orleans).  The great thing about traveling without a schedule is that we were able to plan a stop.  Tonight we are at the Metairie Elks Lodge and Mom and Dad are getting their charbroiled oysters.  They were so excited to eat the oysters that they didn't take a picture, until they were done eating.  All that was left was the napkin.

Thursday, December 13 - Today we left Metairie/New Orleans and continued on to Shreveport, Louisiana and set up camp at the Shreveport Elks.   It was a rainy day and we didn't take a picture of anything.  Some days travel isn't so glamorous.

Friday, December 14 - Today Mom and Dad decided to explore Shreveport.  The first place that they went was the Shreveport Water Works Museum.  It's a National Historic Landmark AND a National Historic Civil Engineering Landmark.  It originally opened in 1887 as the city's first water plant and operated continuously until 1980 with the original steam engines.  They added filtration in 1890 (yes, over 125 years ago), an unusual technology at the time.  In 1911, they were one of the earliest facilities in the country to use chlorine in the water treatment process.   

Boilers at the Shreveport Water Works Museum.  These were installed 

when the plant was "modernized" in 1917 and they created steam to 

operate the pumps until the plant was closed in 1980.  

This is one of the steam operated water pumps.  It was installed in 1921.

This is the oldest pump and was installed in 1898.

Big pumps required big wrenches.  Look at that, compared to Dad's hand!

After their visit to the water works, Mom and Dad went to the Louisiana State Exhibit Museum.  The museum was completed in 1939 as part of the New Deal.  The building itself is very interesting, since it's round.   

It contains a variety of art and historical artifacts, but is best known for it's 23 Dioramas depicting life in the 1930's.  For example, this one shows harvesting cotton.  The detail was amazing.  It may look like a painting in this photo, but the only part that is a painting is the sky and clouds and the row of trees in the background.  

Of course, being based on 1930's Louisiana, there was a prevalent theme - one or two white men (usually in a suit and tie), supervising a large number of black people (men, women, and children) who are doing the actual work.

Mom and Dad only managed to see two museums, but have several on their list for "next time" in Shreveport.

Next time I'll tell you about our visit to Fort Worth.

Love,

Doolin

Fort Walton Beach, Florida to Mobile, Alabama

Sunday, December 9 - Today Mom and Dad went to the National Navy Aviation Museum in Pensacola.  They said they saw lots of cool airplanes.

This is the NC-4, one of the "NC flying boats".  In May, 1919, THIS PLANE 

made the first successful Transatlantic flight.  That's pretty cool to see 

the actual plane, not a replica, and it's nearly 100 years old.

After their visit to the museum, Mom and Dad went to the harbor 

in Destin to see the Lighted Ships Parade.

Monday, December 10 - Today we drove from Fort Walton Beach to Mobile, Alabama.  We are staying at Meaher State Park on Mobile Bay.  We arrived early, so we took a drive along the Bay and ended up at the beach in Gulf Shores.

When they got back to the car, Mom and Dad showed me this pretty 

picture of the beach.  I couldn't go because fur kids aren't 

allowed on the beach in Gulf Shores.  😡

Fortunately, Mom didn't get swallowed by the shark.

Tuesday, December 11 - Today we drove to Dauphin Island.  It's a pretty island connected to the mainland by a bridge.  Mom and Dad went to the Audubon Bird Sanctuary.  They didn't see many birds, but it was a pretty place to walk.

Trees reflecting in the marsh.

On the way back to the RV, Mom and Dad stopped in downtown Mobile and took a walk around. 

Beautiful fountain in one of the parks.

Cool heron sculpture made out of old industrial parts.

When they got back, we all went for a walk in the State Park.  In the 

middle of the picture, you may be able to see some white spots.  

Those are RV's in the campground and ours is one of them.

We had a beautiful sunset reflected in the side of our motor home.

We enjoyed our visit to the Gulf Coast.  Next time I'll tell you about our visit to Louisiana.

Love,

Doolin