RV Generator Oil Change

Did I mention how handy Kasie is? She makes changing the oil on the Onan 4000 gas generator look easy. Even I can do it. Indeed, with the right tools and products, this is a DIY friendly project that anyone can do in less than 30 minutes. All she used was:
(1) 1.6 quarts of oil
(2) 12 mm socket
(3) T30 Torx bit or screwdriver
(4) Funnel
(5) Container for the used oil
(6) Tape
(7) Rags
(8) Drop cloth, cardboard

Have a look! And please subscribe to the channel if you found this helpful.

One more thing. We are still trying to come up with a name for videos like this. Dames Who DIY? The Get 'er Done Girls? Maintenance Mavens? If you have ideas, please shoot us an email or leave a suggestions in the comments!

Royal Gorge for Lana’s 50th— Trains, Bridges, and Beer! Oh My!

Where: Canyon City and Pueblo Colorado
When: May 31, 2021
Bucket List: Royal Gorge
Beer: Actually, it was the reuben that day.

Royal Gorge Train Ride

On the actual day of Lana’s milestone birthday, we planned a last-minute 1.5-hour drive southwest from our campground at Cheyenne Mountain state park.   Our destination was Canon City, where we would board the Royal Gorge Route train for a morning ride through the canyon.   When we booked the excursion, we splurged for a flight local craft beers ($12) and a green chili breakfast burrito ($14).   We rationalized that a birthday beer before 10 am was perfectly acceptable.   The food was decent – way better than “airplane” food, but not as good local breakfast diner fare.  Kasie thought the food was actually better than most restaurants.

We booked two of the more expensive “Vista Dome” seats ($89/person), figuring that the configuration would provide better views.  Seat assignments are random and even when booking early you cannot choose your seats.   We read online that the train does not turn around during the trip and one side of the train is more desirable than the other.  While our assigned seats were on the mountain-side, a gorge-side table across from us was vacant.  As such, we were able to hop from one side of the train car to the next with ease and get unobstructed views of both the mountains and gorge.   The expansive windows were clean enough to make the views quite good, although our 4K video picked up some reflections and window spots/streaks weren’t observable with the naked eye.   The trip is one of those things where videos/photos will never do the experience justice.

Class C Broads at the Royal Gorge

Like nearly everyone else on the train, we ventured to a crowded open-air car for part of the ride, including the portion near the Royal Gorge bridge.  Even though we were shoulder-to-shoulder at times and a little chilly, that was the best part of the ride!  We popped back there a couple of times, and in hindsight, I wish that we had spent more time there.  If you read any online review, you will probably get the same advice.  

Royal Gorge Bridge and Park

After seeing the Royal Gorge Bridge from below on the train, Lana wanted to experience the bridge from above.  So after our train ride, we purchased $28/person tickets and drove an additional 20 minutes to the privately-run Royal Gorge Bridge and Park.   Although a true capitalist tourist attraction, there was enough to do there to keep our attention for roughly two hours.  

We started by traversing the bridge and taking obligatory selfie photos.   The views were truly spectacular.   Next, we explored the far side of the park, which includes a theatre and exhibit area about the construction and history of the bridge.  It’s amazing to think that the bridge was constructed in 1929!   A 2013 destroyed most of the park – but the bridge survived and reportedly lost only 32 planks. 

The general park admission ticket includes a gondola ride, and we found the lines to be 10 times shorter on the side opposite the park entrance.  Additional attractions include the Cloudscraper Zipline, Royal Rush Skycoaster, and Via Ferrata (a fancy word for rock climbing that I had to look up) – all for extra money.  Visitors can also grab a beer from Bristol Brewing Company, one of our favorite breweries on Colorado Springs!

A family could easily spend a day (and a fortune) at the park.  We were content with just seeing the bridge and a gondola ride to take in the views.   Overall, the park is a little pricey, but it’s one of those things that I can check off my bucket list.

Shamrock Brewing - Pueblo Colorado

Shamrock Brewing Co. (Pueblo Colorado)

Our next stop on Lana’s birthday was Pueblo Colorado, which is just south of Colorado Springs.   The weather was not cooperating with us though.   As the rain poured, we attempted to eat lunch at the Brues Alehouse Brewing Company.  There was a long wait, so we wandered around the downtown and took photos of some pretty spectacular public art (especially the murals).   After more than a half hour, we checked out the brewery again – only to find that the wait was still long and a hostess who could not have cared less.   Maybe I was just being pouty because it was my birthday and I was hangry.   In any event, at that point, it was clear that the brewery was just not meant for us.

Reuben at Shamrock Brewing — You can get it with bacon!

Our “second choice” of Shamrock Brewing could not have been better.  Kasie had a Muffin Top Mango Wheat, and I had the West Coast IPA.  We shared wonderful Reuben filed with slow-cooked brisket, jalapenos, bacon, and just the right amount of sauce.  I hesitate to call anything “the best ever” but I cannot remember ever having a Reuben that was this tasty!   A serious #1.  A 5.0/5.0.  Slap yo’ mamma, good.  Bam! 

Peaks and Pines Brewery (Fountain Colorado)

Having launched in 2015 in Colorado Springs, Peaks and Pines Brewery opened a second location in Fountain in 2019.   Being just 20 minutes south of our campground at Cheyenne Mountain State Park, we made a final stop for desert beers to end the day in Fountain.   Kasie had a Wabo Watermelon Wheat served with an actual chunk of watermelon added, while Lana had a Peanut Butter Mocha Porter.  We sat at the bar and people-watched a local couple and the bar tender exchange stories.   There’s a decent “bar food” menu from Brewside Eatery food truck as well.     

As milestone birthday’s go, the day was fabulous.  Royal Gorge (both the train ride and the bridge/park) was a true “bucket list” experience, and I ate and drank like I did in my twenties.   The only thing lacking was not having friends or family around.   If we ever decide to start RVing full time, that will be the toughest part, I think.

I am truly blessed to be on this ride and adventure….

Colorado Springs USA— America!

When:  Wednesday May 26, to Wednesday June 2, 2021
Where:  Cheyenne Mountain State Park (Colorado Springs, Colorado)
Cost:  $41/night for full hook-ups plus $9/day vehicle pass (covers both RV and tow vehicle)
Bucket Lists: Red Rock Open Canyon
Beer:  Brass Brewing (downtown Colorado)

Colorado Springs holds some significance for my small family because it was the place my parents first called home.  My father was stationed at Fort Carson, and as newlyweds, my parents stayed at the now-demolished Chief Motel on S. Nevada for a few weeks (there’s a Chick-fil-A there now). Their first real “home” together was the Apollo Park Apartments on S. Circle Drive.  Kasie also spent a couple of months in Colorado Springs during her early twenties as part of her Air Force service.  When I was trying to figure out where to spend my milestone birthday, those past familial ties were one of the reasons I chose Colorado Springs. It’s a place that shaped the people I love the most.

As luck would have it, my uncle was going to be in the Colorado Springs area during our visit. Although my uncle is from western Kansas, he drives his “Flora de Lune” white van to Monument Colorado (just north of Colorado Springs) several times a year to sell flowers at the farmers’ market.  He is a long-haired, bearded hippie hoot.  His given name is Galen, but we’ve always called him Clyde.  He carries a flip phone, but calls me using his computer every now and then. He starts out every conversation with a laid back “Greetings” followed by an excited giggle.  That was how he greeted us when we surprised him at the farmers’ market.

After catching up with Clyde, we ventured a little south to the Air Force Academy.  I wanted to go to the visitor center, but it was still closed because of covid-19. We took a nearby path to find that the architecturally wonderous chapel was undergoing renovations.  A little bummed, we ventured first to the Commissary and then to the Exchange to see if we could score any good deals.   We walked out of the former with some pickle popsicles and a jumbo bag of sunflower seeds exclaiming: “Treat yo’ self!”

Brass Brewing - Colorado Springs

“Military” Breweries in Colorado Springs

With our patriotic and capitalistic spirits renewed, why not spend some more time celebrating America?  Luckily, Colorado Springs is home to two breweries that seem to cater to the military.  

• A veteran owned and operated brewery located on the edge of downtown Colorado Springs, Brass Brewing features a narrow sitting area with framed photos of military men and women.  I have to salute the two extremely good and interesting beers we tried:  the 2/10 Beserker Blond Stout and the Born to Run Watermelon Gose.   That stout was probably the best beer I had during our stay in Colorado Spring.  That is saying something.

• Red Leg Brewing is located in an industrial area just off Garden of the Gods Road.  The brewery’s name is a nod to the Civil War battlefields, where soldiers wore a red stripe on their pant leg to denote their location on the battlefield.  The place is tastefully decorated with patriotic items.  We enjoyed the Hoppin’ on Sunshine Grapefruit IPA and the Disturbing Tan Lines Mango Pineapple Wheat.   That’s some great beer names! The beertender was very friendly, and offered up her thoughts on other breweries we might like to treat ourselves to in the area.

North Cheyenne Canyon Park - Columbine Trail

Cheyenne Canyon Park

Our tour de America continued with a nice hike through North Cheyenne Canyon Park.   The 7.6-mile in-and-out Columbine trail generally follows the path of the North Cheyenne Creek and the North Cheyenne Canyon road. It was a beautiful trail. The only negative is that we could still hear road traffic at times. After walking the 2.2 miles “lower” portion, we entered the “middle” portion, convinced that a large waterfall was just around the corner (it was not). We kept going farther than we should have with our limited water supply and no cell coverage.  Yet, we saw very few people on the middle trail so this is a great alternative for those wanting to avoid the crowds of places like Garden of the Gods.

Magic Town (Michael Garman)

Perhaps the most “American” thing we did during our stay in Colorado Springs was to visit the miniature city known as Magic Town created by Michael Garman.   The free part of the building is basically a retail store for his sculptures. Yet, that area enticed us to fork over $7.50/person to enter Magic Town. There, we were transported to several rooms of both other times and dimensions.   Constructed at 1:6 scale, the “town” is a series of intricate urban neighborhood scenes from the 1930s-1950s.   Working men and women can be found on the street, at the bar, hotels, the theatre, and their apartment homes.  The buildings are constructed with inviting windows for voyeuristic viewers.  Some scenes are incredibly sad (e.g., a dog looking for food); others are quite titillating.  Parts of the town are animated with mirrors and hologram-like images so that the scenes change to make the town even more realistic.   One window flipped from a sculptor to a boy playing the piano – which we surmised was Mr. Garman himself.    

Kasie at Michael Garman’s “Magic Town”

As luck would have it, Mr. Garman was there, and we were able to interview him for several minutes.  He’s a positive person, but the grit of work shows reveals some darker experiences he must have had.   He started Magic Town in 1975 and works on new additions to this day, and has dozens in the works at the same time.  You can see his works and read about the town online. But there is nothing like seeing it in person. His sculptured cityscapes and people are as entertaining as any 2D movie I’ve ever seen.  Simply put, add Magic Town to your “bucket list” and treat yo’ self by making a visit.   

Colorado Springs — Welcome to Colorful Colorado!

When:  Wednesday May 26, to Wednesday June 2, 2021
Where:  Cheyenne Mountain State Park (Colorado Springs, Colorado)
Cost:  $41/night for full hook-ups plus $9/day vehicle pass (covers both RV and Jeep)
Biking:   Um….sorta?!#
Bucket Lists: Red Rock Open Canyon
Beer:  Bristol Brewing Company

Cheyenne Mountain State Park:  A (Prairie) Doggone Good Time!

Cheyenne Mountain State Park, which opened just 15 years ago, features four different campgrounds located in the same general area (Swift Puma, Raptor Glen, Gobbler Grove, and The Meadow).   We booked a site in the Swift Puma campground, but because the campground messed up our reservation, they moved us to an adjacent handicap site.   All of the full hook-up sites are large, paved, and level; even the more primitive tent camping areas feature level sites. We were told the park was full, but aside from Memorial Day weekend, several full hook-up sites were not occupied during our stay.  The weather was a little cold and rainy so that perhaps that could have been the reason for some empty sites.   

The campground is set midway up the mountain so sunsets and sunrises are a real treat.  The park’s main entrance is right across from Fort Carson, and there’s also a bird’s eye view of the military base from most sites.   We were treated most mornings to Reveille around 6:30 am. I’m usually up with the sunrise because the dogs start making their own music, but for those who like to sleep in, that might be an issue. 

A number of hiking trails wind between the various campgrounds and other parts of the park.  We were able to walk the dogs and explore many of the trails during our weeklong stay.  Dogs are not permitted on some of the trails so we had to make sure we stayed on the right ones.  Frequent signs display the trail name, as well as GPS coordinates so that is not much of a problem.  Deer, rabbits, and other critters are prevalent on the trails, but our favorite location for spotting wildlife was the fields of prairie dog mounds near the park’s entrance.   On our first day, two little guys scampered out in front of our car.   From then on, we would bring our cameras and binoculars and hunt prairie dogs for several minutes each time we would exit or enter the park, all while periodically exclaiming in our best BBC voice “Alan” and “Steve” like in this video.

Turns out, I fell in love with prairie dogs on this trip. And, like many things I find joy in, I get inspired to write a song about it. My little ditty is nothing like Bruce Hornsby rendition, btw.

RV Set-Up Checklist:  Beer?

Our camping checklist set-up includes searching for a brewery that serves both beer and food.   Pikes Peak Brewing started a few miles north in Monument, Colorado.  Yet, the downtown Colorado Springs “lager house” appeared to be a true working brewery location as well.   The brewery is part of hip communal restaurant space where different vendors offer everything from sandwiches to Korean street eats.  People grab their beer, order food from vendor, and then sit anywhere in the space.   There is also a performing stage and a cocktail bar in the shared space.  I wish that other cities would adopt this type of collaborative food/drink environment.   It’s the type of place I’d take someone for a date night or if I wanted to go out with a bunch of friends.   I had the 300 Days IPA, and Kasie had the Pearl De Vere Cherry Lime Sour.   

Pikes Peak Brewery - downtown Colorado Springs

A Colorful Bike Ride Through Colorado Springs

One of the reasons why I wanted to spend my milestone birthday in Colorado Springs is because the city contains plentiful bike trails and designated bike lanes.  I was excited to spend 2-3 days exploring the city on our bikes!   Among other things, Colorado Springs is home to the Pikes Peak Greenway Trail, which traverses much of the city from north-south direction, meandering along Monument Creek and Fountain Creek in the central part of the city.   Google maps suggested that it would be a colorful ride.   It was…but the color was black, blue, and then purple.   Let me explain….

We started our ride at an unofficial trail head by parking at a Kohls department store located just off South Circle Drive in the southeast part of town.   Less than 20 minutes later, we were crossing Highway 24 via an underpass near a large homeless population.  A police officer was arresting someone, and both people were blocking the bike path.  I slowed down and exited the trail to avoid them, but when I tried to get back on the trail, my front tire struck the trail “curb” and I went a combination of head-first and hands-first into the pavement.  My helmet was a life-saver, but face and hands were bloodied. 

Luckily, the police were literally already on the scene and immediately called an ambulance.  They repeatedly told me that there would be no cost – presumably because the accident had happened on city property.  I was a little wobbly and dizzy at times, but felt like I just needed to cool off, drink some water, and take a view minutes get over the shock of what happened.   Inside the ambulance, the nice paramedics assured me that my vitals were good, gave me a souvenir washcloth and ice pack to take home, and told me to go to a hospital to get checked out further.  When I inquired, they assured me that they were just legally obligated to say this no matter what.   Meanwhile, another police officer accompanied Kasie to our Jeep (still parked at the Kohls), while another police officer watched over the bikes until we could load them on the Jeep.  They were concerned about one of the homeless guys who had a hatchet, and thought the bikes might be a little tempting for him.  “A Hatchet!?!” I exclaimed.   She assured us that they were closely monitoring Mr. Hatchet Man, and helped us on our way.  She also gave us some of her favorite hiking trails that the locals like. 

I cannot say enough about how great the Colorado Springs first responders were.  

Manitou Springs

We went back to the campground, regrouped, and decided that some food/beer would probably be a good next step to salvage our first full day in the Colorado Spring area.   We accelerated our plans to see Manitou Springs by heading to the Manitou Brewing Company.  After the brewery, we strolled around the touristy downtown area, and found several of the springs named for the area (many of which were not flowing).   I wasn’t in the mood for that that many people so we decided to leave the area.  People say wonderful things about Manitou Springs, but I just wasn’t feeling it that day.  

Red Rock Canyon Open Space

The police officer who took Kasie to our Jeep recommended Red Rock Canyon Open Space for hiking.  It’s located just east of Manitou Springs across from Garden of the Gods, but is not crazy busy.   We easily found parking next to the Sand Canyon trailhead, which connects to the Contemplative Trail to form a loop that skirts some massive rock formations.  The 1.75-mile hike includes numerous opportunities to exit the trail, climb a boulder or rest in a crag.  The trail also includes numerous overlook vantage points, including some spectacular views of Garden of the Gods and neighboring homes.   The best part about the hike was that we truly felt like we were in nature in the middle of a city.  We encountered less than a dozen people during our mid-day hike.   I couldn’t imagine anything better than this hike, and completely understood why the locals prefer it to Garden of the Gods.  

Enjoying a beer at Bristol Brewing Company after Lana’s bike ride accident

Bristol Brewing Company

After the hike, we were hungry and thirsty.  Some friends had told us to be sure and check out an old stone school that had been converted to a brewery, Bristol Brewing Company.   When we plugged it into Google maps, we were a little surprised to see that the brewery was just few blocks from where the bike accident occurred.  Although close in proximity, the homeless camp and the neighborhood brewery share little else in common.   The brewery was a nice way to come full circle for the day on a positive note.

Bristol Brewing Company turned out to be one of my favorites of our Colorado brewery stops.  You can read more about all of the breweries we visited in one of my other blog posts.

Exploring Small Towns in Kansas and Colorado

When:  Friday May 21 to Weds May 26, 2021
Where:  Rocky Pond (Belleville Kansas)
Cost:  $20/night for full hook-ups (and extremely good wi-fi)
Bucket Lists: Worlds Largest Easel (Goodland Kansas)
Beer:  Kansas Territory Brewing (Washington Kansas)

Like most people, when traveling, I’ve always felt rushed to get to the final destination because vacations are usually time limited to a week or so.  Now that I’m retired and Kasie can work from the road, we are blessed to be able to enjoy the journey a little more.

Belleville Kansas Mural — By Denise Dove

About Belleville Kansas

In May 2021, we decided to take a trip to Colorado Springs in the RV.   Our first stop was to Belleville, Kansas to stay in my hometown and where my parents still live.  Belleville is the quintessential small town with a slowly decreasing population of around 2000 people who all seem to know each other.  People talk about things like the weather, crops, and the schools.  The community invests heavily in their public schools, and everyone follows the Battling Buffaloes sports teams.

Downtown Belleville features a number of businesses arranged in a “historic square” that surrounds a majestic white courthouse built as part of a 1930s Public Works Administration project.  Through much of my childhood, my parents owned and operated an antique store on the square.  Today, you’ll find businesses like the local newspaper (the Belleville Telescope), a gift/coffee shop (The Feathered Nest), a flower shop, insurance agency, real estate agency, appliance store, and a really good wood-fired pizza joint (Woodshop Pizza).   The Blair Theater still displays first-run movies on its ornate marquee.  There are now a set of e-bikes for rent on one corner of the square, but I’ve never seen them being used.  The two stop-lights on Main Street start blinking red sometime around 9:00 pm.  Things don’t change or move too fast around Belleville, and that is part of its charm.

Belleville is located at the intersection of Highways 36 and 81, and is known as the Crossroads of America.  Several businesses are located close the highways, including a Dairy Queen and the Los Primos Mexican restaurant for good grub.  Travelers can also visit the Republic County Historical Museum or the High Banks Museum as Belleville is home to the fasted half-mile dirt track in America.  People come from all over to watch the car races, and the county fair in August features several races every night.

Rocky Pond in Belleville Kansas is a prime location!

Rocky Pond (Belleville, Kansas) – A $20/night bargain!

Rather than park in my parents’ driveway, we thought it would be fun to stay at Rocky Pond.  In the 1980s when I was in high school, Rocky Pond was the location of several keg parties, primary because it was located just outside of the city limits.  At some point, the city annexed the pond, and made significant improvements to the area.  The eight 50-amp full hook-up sites are all first-come first-serve for just $20/night.  The complimentary internet is crazy fast (we were able to stream without any difficulty).   There are also some cozy cabins for rent.  The pond area contains a nice fountain, showers/bathrooms, pier, and picnic shelter areas.   A group of local volunteers decorate the road around the pond with Christmas lights each year that people from surrounding communities rave about.   Adjacent to the RV park is a the “Buff Ruff” dog park, and within walking distance are the Belleville fairgrounds, where the race car track resides.   And, just beyond that is a city park with swimming pool, basketball courts, horse shoe games, and an outdoor amphitheater.  Simply put, RVers will find a lot of outdoor activities to do when camping at Rocky Pond.

Kansas Territory Brewing Company (Washington, Kansas)

Kansas Territory Brewing - Washington Kansas

Just thirty miles east of Belleville in Washington Kansas lies a brewery who makes one of my favorite beers of all time:  Kansas Territory  The first time we visited the brewery we both fell in love the freshly tapped Pineapple Life Coach Lager.   The brewery’s non-fruit “Life Coach” is one of its flagship beers and is very popular as well.  Perhaps the best part is that the beers were $2.50 on tap and $7 for a six-pack.  That’s the cheapest craft beer I’ve ever purchased!   Maybe the owners think folks around north central Kansas are used to Bud Light and Miller Light prices so they have to compete. 

The brewery does offer more traditional craft beers – like Locomotion Stout, Wind Wagon IPA, Aeroplane Pale Ale.  Yet, there is something about an easy drinking lager that is a true local beer for north-central Kansas.  They’ve recently introduced the Bradford Light so they have two lagers now.  

The brewery also has a limited food menu – burgers, pizza and pretzels mostly.  But the food is good.  And priced similarly to the beer (cheap).  

During our May 2021 trip to the brewery, the beertender gave us an informal tour of the downtown location, and told us a little about the owners, Brad and Donna Portiener.   Serial entrepreneurs, they made most of their money at the Bradford Built truck bed manufacturing plant just south of town.  We learned that a new beer production facility was being built next to the truck bed operation, and that we were welcome to stop by and take a look even if no one was around.  We jumped at the invitation and ventured to the new location.  We spent 30 minutes or so marveling at the large tanks, walls of empty “Life Coach” cans, and the chalk markings on the floor of where future equipment would go.  It was nice to see the owners giving back to their community by building there, and the community supporting the new site.

The Geographical Center of the United States (Lebanon, Kansas)

After staying a few days in Belleville, it was time to head west.  Our first stop was just an hour away at the Geographic Center of the United State located just north of Highway 36 near Lebanon, Kansas. The place had a handful of visitors even though it was early morning, raining, and a weekday.

Bruce Springsteen talks about “meeting in the middle” at the chapel near the Geographical Center of the United States in Lebanon Kansas

Upon arrival, the first thing I noticed was a little white chapel. At the time we visited, someone used a red Sharpie to write something about Bruce Springsteen, and left it on the chapel dias. I later learned that the text was from a commercial voiced by The Boss that aired during the 2021 Superbowl. The message was that we need to “meet in the middle” more…just like in Lebanon Kansas. I totally agree.

In the area, there are three signs which refer to the center of the United States – which left me wondering which one of those signs was the TRUE center of the U.S.  I’m pretty sure the location is the stone monument with the bronze plaque.   But it made me wonder if some surveyor might have been off by a dozen or so feet so there were three signs….just in case he was wrong with one.   Yes, these are the things I think about. 

“They Also Ran Gallery” (Norton, Kansas)

Our next stop was a loser.  Literally.   They Also Ran Gallery features the framed portraits and a brief biography of the men and women (thanks Hillary!) who were major candidates for the presidency and lost.   The “museum” is on the second floor of the First State Bank and was started in the 1960s by the bank’s former president and owner.   He was inspired by a book he had read by the same name written by Irving Stone (which is also at the gallery) and started the museum to draw people to Norton.  

A bank employee curates the museum, and was a delight to talk to.   She pointed out some of the more popular and/or perennial losers (e.g. Henry Clay), including those of local significance (e.g., Bob Dole).  I’m no Doris Kearns Godwin, but I did recognize many names thanks to having some pretty good grade school and high school history teachers. 

I spent most of my time refreshing my memory on the modern losers.  Interestingly, Ross Perot was not considered enough of a candidate to make the wall.   Yet, if a president lost his bid for a second term (like President Carter or President H.W. Bush), he still made the wall.  If you are wondering, President Trump did have his mug on display because he lost the 2020 election.  It is sort of sad that I had some uneasiness about whether that might be so. But he was right up there beside Hillary! (Btw, I got a little choked up seeing Hillary Clinton’s photo on the wall with all those men…some day, that glass ceiling is going to break.)

World’s Largest Easel — Goodland Kansas

World’s Largest Easel (Goodland, Kansas)

After few more hours on I-70, we came upon the World's Largest Easel in Goodland, Kansas.  I was not expecting much, and this stop over-delivered.  The colorful painting of Van Gogh’s sunflowers is much larger than it looks from the interstate.  Yet, the best part was that the easel was right next to a very nice dog park and inviting Welcome Center.  A paved “Topside Trail” connects that to another park with gazebos, tennis courts, softball fields, a water park, and a museum.  I’ve decided that the next time we travel I-70, I’d like to stay in Goodland for a night or two.  They really do put out the welcome mat for travelers!

Welcome Center Boondocking (Burlington, Colorado)

For our two-day trip to Colorado after leaving Belleville, we spent the night at the Colorado Welcome Center in Burlington Colorado.  There’s a “Old Town” museum right next door that looks super touristy.   It was late in the day (close to 4 pm) so we opted to just walk downtown and grab some Mexican food from one of the three Mexican restaurants there.   We also walked over to the fairgrounds area to see the Kit Carson County Carousel, but it had not yet opened for the season.   We went back to the RV and called it an early night amongst the other truckers parked there. 

 Paint Mines Interpretive Park (Calhan, Colorado)

Paint Mines Interpretive Park in Calhan Colorado

About 75 miles after crossing the Colorado border, we arrived at the Paint Mines Interpretive Park.  This was yet another detour that exceeded our expectations.   After a few miles of driving dirt roads on flat terrain where we were wondering “ is this going to be worth it,” we arrived at the park.  What is so cool is that the place is (1) free and (2) seems to spring up out of nowhere.  

The main parking lot is small, but we were early in the day an snagged a spot for the RV/Jeep.  A school bus of kids arrived shortly after we did so we lucked out.  We later learned that there are two additional parking lots – one for overlook section, and one on the east side of the park. 

The ~750-acre park contains roughly 4 miles of hiking trails overall, but there are smaller loops to traverse.  Our journey started with a winding trail that was fairly flat, but then opened up to a number of hoodoos, monoliths, and other colorful rock formations.   Oxidized iron in the clay creates bands of yellow, red, pink, and purple colors.  The Native Americans in the area would gather the clay to make paints for their ceramics – which is why the place is called the Paint Mines.  Artifacts dating back ~9000 years have been discovered in the area, ranging from arrow heads to petrified wood used in tool making.  

Yellow and blue flowers were blooming during our time there, adding to the color palette.   The colorful rocks were massive, but climbing on them is strictly prohibited.  Unfortunately, several kids from the bus (and their teacher) ignored that prohibition, even despite being called out for not heeding the rules by another park visitor. 

After making a number of stops from our home in mid-Missouri, we were again starting to feel like “real” RVers. We arrived at our “final” destination in Colorado Springs mid-afternoon, but our big road trip was just beginning….     

Meet Me in St. Charles…Again

When:  Friday, April 30, 2021 to Monday, May 3, 2021
Where:  Sundermeier RV Park (St. Charles, MO – a suburb of St. Louis)
Cost:  $55/night (minus 10% discount for Good Sam) for pull-through sites with full hook ups
Biking:  Katy Trail
Beer Rankings: (1)  Friendship Brewing (Wentzville MO); (2) Good News Brewing (O’Fallon MO); (3) Third Wheel Brewing (St. Peters MO); (4) Schlafly Bankside; (5) Missouri Beer Company (O’Fallon MO)

St. Charles Missouri - Very Cute!

In 2019, one of our first “big” RV trips was to St. Charles Missouri.  We still had Sally the Travel Trailer, and all did not go as planned as we explained back then.  But we had a good enough time that we thought we would try it again – this time with Birdie the Class C.

We stayed at the same RV Park, and even though it is on the pricey side, the convenient location is worth every penny. We also went back to a couple of the same breweries (Friendship Brewing and Third Wheel Brewing), and tried two new ones (Good News Brewing and Missouri Beer Company).  Good News was my favorite discovery of this trip, not just for the tasty beer flight and pizza but also for the location(s). The brewery has other locations near the Katy Trail in Defiance and Augusta. (Um….I guess I now have a reason to visit Defiance and Augusta).  

The only “brewery” that is actually in St. Charles is Schlafly Bankside, which is more of a taproom for the large brewery located in other parts of the St. Louis. The location is a recent acquisition, and it feels overly corporate and sparsely decorated. Yet, I must admit that they had a very good happy hour!

St. Charles was also celebrating Main in Bloom, and the small city was bustling with people.  The downtown area is filled with unique shops and restaurants, and we loved just walking around.   Yet, the main reason I wanted to come back to the area was to ride the Katy Trail.   During our ride, we made a few unplanned detours, but had a ton of fun just exploring the city and surrounding areas!   

Enjoying a flight Good News Brewing (O’Fallon) — Close to St. Charles

For me, the best part about this trip was learning more about Seaman, the dog who accompanied Lewis and Clark on their famous journey west.   The city is filled with statues of Seaman, which is what first got me interested in him back in 2019.  This time, I talked Kasie into spending sometime at the Lewis and Clark Boathouse and Museum.  The museum dioramas tell the story chronologically quite well, but my advice is to start with the short video.  There’s a small cost ($5/person) to help support the museum.

If you are in the St. Louis area, be sure and check out St. Charles.  You won’t be disappointed.  

Blog from 2019:
Meet Me in St. Louis in the RV for Biking and Beer

Girls Who RV Song (Official Music Video): the Class C Broads Theme Song

About the “Girls Who RV Song”

In the late 1990s, I bought a cheap guitar (the same one you see in this video), and started writing silly songs.  I’d characterize the genre as “SNL Adam Sandler”:   funny lyrics + basic strumming.   Yes, I was influenced by classics like Lunch Lady Land and The Thanksgiving Song. 

My songs are lyric-driven.  Usually, I’ll write about 80% of the lyrics in a single session, and then obsess about figuring out the melody.  I’m limited by the fact that I can only play a handful of cords (e.g., G, C, D, E, A) and have never been able to master any bar cords.  I’ve never changed the guitar strings in 20+ years so I probably play slightly out of tune, but I figure that just matches my vocal range.  Oh well. 

Covid-19 provided me with some time to pick up songwriting again.   I wrote “Girls Who RV” last fall, before the idea of having a YouTube channel had fully germinated.  I subscribe to a lot of groups on Facebook like Girl Camper and Women Who RV.   I’m always inspired by these women, and the support and knowledge being shared.    RVing can seem daunting at first, and so knowing that other women are doing it (sometimes on their own) is incredibly helpful.  In some ways, I think writing the song itself helped give me the courage to stop practicing law and start living my dream. It was an obvious choice to be the Class C Broads theme song….

While the song focuses on our experiences as two women who RV, I’m pretty sure the guys who RV will find it funny as well.  Please have a look/listen, and if you know of folks who RV, please share this with them. 

Lyrics to the “Girls Who RV Song”

VERSE 1
Hey there ladies
Come sit a spell
Around the fire
For the stories we'll tell.

What's your rig?
You full or part time?
You got sticks and bricks?
I'm think I might sell mine

And just back it in
Put the jacks on the ground
Slide it out
And slink it on down

CHORUS
‘Cause I’m a Class C broad
A Girl who RVs
A Dame who Dumps
Just living the dream
Now let's go hook up the toad
And hit the road.

VERSE 2
In cities and parks
We can roam
Some ladies, some dogs
In our motorhomes.

Lassies on a chassis
A gal with a guide
For bucket lists
And just enjoying the ride.

We can back it up
Or pull it through
Crank the awnings out
And enjoy the view

VERSE 3
We can COE
Or just boondock
We just need little solar
Or G(J)enny from the Block

Harvest host
Near wine and brews
Or get full hookups
If we chose

Just back it in
Explore the town
Make new friends
There's beauty all around.

VERSE 4
Let's talk batteries
And what best performs
You got your lead acid, AGMs,
And Battle Borns.

Twelve volt, 30 amp,
[Dinah] Shore power
Flip your switch
For a hot shower

Just unplug yourself
Check your ground
Recharge your soul
With nature all around

VERSE 5
If you are just getting started
Here's a little tip:
Pull the black, then gray
And watch it go on, git

Get good sway bars
For your hitch
And a trucker GPS
For the chickpit.

And just back it in
Put the Jills on the ground
Slide it out
And slink it on down

CHORUS (REPRISE)
Be a Class C Broad
Be a Girl who RVs
A Dame who Dumps
Just living the dream
Now let's go hook up the toad
And hit the road.

Sweet home in my camper.

Sweet home in my camper.

Copyright 2021 by Lana Knedlik
All rights Reserved

The Eastern Shore of Mobile Bay is Worth a Stay

When:  Saturday, February 13 and Sunday, February 14, 2021
Where:  Historic Blakely State Park
Cost:  $30/night for full hook-ups
Bucket Lists:  United States Sports Academy Statues; Driving/Walking Tour at Historic Blakely State Park 
Beer:  Fairhope Brewery (Fairhope, Alabama)

About midway through our 9-night stay in the Pensacola area, we looked at the forecast back home in Columbia, Missouri.  The entire United States was starting to experience record cold temperatures (it would get down to -8ºF in Columbia).  Because I was newly retired and Kasie could work remotely, we opted to do what many RV owners do: just keep RVing.  Admittedly, given that Kasie and I are pretty much type-A personalities, this was a BIG DEAL for both of us.  Neither one of us are naturally go-with-the-flow types.  Thus, the idea of not really knowing when we might ultimately get home was a completely new experience for us.

But where would we stay?  The year before, we spent two nights in the Fairhope, Alabama area on the way back from Florida and loved it.  Thus, we decided to make our way slightly westward about an hour and head back to the area. 

Staying at a Harvest Host in Fairhope, Alabama

Finding a place to stay on such short notice proved to be difficult.  Our final itinerary included a one-night Harvest Host stay at Bill-E's in Fairhope (f/k/a the Old 27 Grill).  This venue touts itself as one that serves the “best…house cured bacon on the Eastern Shore.”   Given that I once wrote a song called “Girls Who Like Bacon” and coached a softball team by that name, this was a place we needed to visit.

Bill-E’s also scored extra runs by having a decent pimento spread and Goat Island Blood Orange Berliner Weisse on tap.   We had first tried this beer at the brewery on our way to Pensacola and were delighted to find it at Bill-E’s.

Exploring the Eastern Shore of Mobile Bay

The eastern shore of the Mobile Bay is dotted with cute, walkable towns having huge Mardi Gras tradition. The highlights from our 2020 and 2021 trips include:

United States Sports Academy

• United States Sports Academy sculptures (Daphne, AL).  

  Located at a private university focused on sports, these outdoor sculptures made of various recycled metal materials are a must-see for both art lovers and sports fans.  You can meet “Borzov the Sprinter,” "Arnold the Weightlifter," "Nastia the Gymnast," and "Jordan the Basketball Player."   The "The Iron Bowl," commemorates the rivalry between the University of Alabama and Auburn University football teams.

• Fairhope History Museum. 

  Where else can someone find lawnmowers on the ceiling, cool wood sculptures, a firetruck, and an old jail?

• Fairhope Brewing. 

  This brewery is always packed with people, good beer, and the Judge Roy Bean stout is one of my favorites of all time.        

• Eastern Shore Trail.  

  This 22-mile biking/hiking trail starts at Spanish Fort and ends at Weeks Bay.   There are great views of the Mobile Bay, but it is easy to get distracted by some of the bungalows interspersed among the multi-million dollar homes. And, who doesn’t want to bike to something called Mullet Point?  

• Warehouse Bakery and Donuts.  

  Last year, we got the sticky bun.  This year, we got the sticky bun.  

Eastern Shore Trail

Fairhope Brewing

Historic Blakely State Park

Our final camping destination was Meaher State Park on the east side of Mobile, Alabama, for four nights.   After our night at Bill-E’s, we had to play reservation hopscotch and stay one night at Historic Blakely State Park. 

Blakely was supposed to be just a place to lay our heads for the night.   When we arrived in the afternoon, the camp hosts gave us maps of the campground, which featured various trails with intriguing names like the “Siege Line Trial” and “Skirmish Line Trail.”   Because our campsite was not ready (still occupied), we loaded up the dogs in the Jeep and headed out to explore the park.  

Historic Blakely State Park

The 2000+ acre park is a real history lesson.  There’s a cemetery, old courthouse area, and ghost structures representing the original town.   The park is home to the Battle of Fort Blakely on April 9, 1865, the last major battle of the Civil War.   The land includes a series of earthen mounds known as “redoubts” that marked the confederate/union battle lines and a large battlefield area.  The various historical landmarks are numbered, and we accessed the online cell app to learn more about the park and its history – spending the entire afternoon exploring it.    Blakely was an unexpected treasure, and I wish that we would have booked a longer stay there.

Classy Beer Awards - Pensacola Edition

During out short stay in Pensacola in February 2021, we visited nearly a dozen craft breweries. That’s a lot of beer, folks. Aside from brewing some pretty darn good beer, each brewery had its own unique vibe.   Which one(s) would you go to if you were ever in the area? To help you decide, we put together the “Classy Beer Awards” based solely on our non-expert opinions and first impressions. Basically, the idea is to just talk about what stood out to us about each brewery and pick a “overall” winner.   We realize others may have different experiences and different opinions. And, keep in mind this is all in good fun. All of the breweries are winners in our opinion.   We also look forward to buying a few more rounds next time we are in the Pensacola area to see if our our first impressions change.

I had an equal amount of fun making the award itself.  Seriously, folks, you won’t want to miss the first couple of minutes of this video about the award.

Here’s a list of the venues we visited (in alphabetical order).  I’ve included “time codes” in the video so that viewers can jump to specific breweries if desired. But again, you probably don’t want to miss the intro.

Time Codes:

0:00​ – Introduction
1:45​ - CCB Theme Song
2:19​ - Judging Criteria / Disclaimers / Viewer Feedback Request
4:45​ - A Little Madness
6:23​ – Beardless Brewhaus
8:29​ – Big Top Brewing
10:40​ – Coastal County Brewing
12:08​ – Gulf Coast Brewery
14:04​ – Odd Colony Brewing Company
16:03​ – Pensacola Bay Brewery
17:19​ – Perfect Plain Brewing Co
19:25​ – Spahr Brewing Company
20:50​ – St. Michael’s Brewing Company
22:27​ – Ye Olde Brothers Brewery
26:13​ – Camera Work Apologies
26:52​ – B-Roll / Outtakes

Cheers!

I also wrote a song about Pensacola. Verse 4 is dedicated to the breweries.

For more videos/blogs on Pensacola, check out:
Five Flags RV Park in Pensacola — A wonderful RV park!
Pensacola: Parks and Pelicans — Graffiti Bridge, Downtown Pensacola, and more!
Fort Pickens: Biking, Beaches & Battlegrounds — A bike ride that is a true bucket list!