What I Love...

What I love about being an RVer is that I meet so many interesting folks.  Through LoWs I've made some great friends who are always ready to offer their ideas and assistance for day-to-day mundane issues.  For instance, one day my friend asked me if I do art - he knew I'd drawn an egg shape on a piece of metal for another friend who is building his computer and wanted to see inside the case, through an egg shape.  He was covering a window in his bedroom, and thought he'd like to have something more interesting to look at outside than a blank window.  As we talked I mentioned that the cover for the front window of my trailer had been broken for several years, since a micro-burst storm in Tucson.  He said he could fix it and maybe we could work a trade for a painting.  He also said he would help me reseal the topper on my truck, as it has been leaking.

"Walter" (not his real name, but some would say his real personality!) wanted a painting of a hobo - my own creation would be fine - whatever I wanted.  I made a sketch and we agreed on a few details.  Then I set to work.  What fun I had! With a couple of onlookers the painting was installed.  It looks pretty neat. 

I love the song, "The Happy Wanderer" and that could be the title for the painting. 

While I was making the Rapid City trip I put the truck in the shop for some repairs; I had a specific concern that I wanted them to check out.  When I returned and picked up the truck I learned that the garage had put 40 miles on the truck, used up most of the gas in the tank, and they didn't 'see' or 'feel' the symptoms I'd described.  Returning the truck to them, after two more days, they told me that I would need a transmission at a cost of about $2700 - $3300 for a new transmission, installed.  Well, I'd also learned that my friend had just had his truck transmission rebuilt in a local transmission shop for $1200.  He gave me the number and I called.

Last Friday, after about four days in the shop, I too now have a rebuilt transmission, for $1500 (I have 4-wheel drive). And the issue I was concerned about is now resolved.  It isn't that I didn't need a new transmission - it was the cost - and the first shop's inability to 'find' what was wrong the first time (actually, they'd checked it out last spring when I was getting ready to leave Deming for the summer and didn't pay much attention) In the future I will give my business to the transmission shop (they do other things, too).

This is Diana Decker's recording of "The Happy Wanderer", from 1954.

Welcome "Followers"!!!

I was delighted to see the new blog gadget on my dashboard, and so surprised to find that someone is 'following' me!  Welcome!  I have wondered recently if anyone is reading what I'm putting out there, aside from the few friends I know who do follow me.  I do love sharing my adventures, especially for those who are interested in life on the road in an RV.  I know there are other blogs about RV traveling, so I'm encouraged to know that someone is reading my posts.

The intent of this blog is to relate stories about my travels and daily life, as well as some philosophical aspects about what I think is important in life.  I hope to communicate something about traveling not only physically on the road, but also about traveling into the mind, the psyche, and spirit.  Changing lead into gold on many levels is my personal goal, and if I give anyone ideas about how they can do the same for themselves, I am glad. 

I've added the "Follow" gadget to the site, so if you'd like to keep coming back, please join me!

"The people on the bus...

...go up and down" (and in and out, and back and forth)...

The route west from Rapid City to Gillette, Buffalo, and Cheyenne, Wyoming was difficult - snow several inches on the road, and the edges not well defined.  Our driver, a female by the the way, did an excellent job getting us safely to Cheyenne; however, we were running very late for our connections to Denver.  We arrived in Cheyenne around 5:30 a.m. with around six to eight inches of snow on the road.  And we learned that Interstate 25 was closed between Cheyenne and Denver.  There was nothing to do but wait out the re-opening of the road.

The bus station is the lobby of the Rodeway Inn in Cheyenne.  Imagine the surprise of the woman at the counter when she saw about 30 people get off the bus and take residence there!   We were offered coffee; however, the bagels, muffins, and cereal she was quick to point out were for the hotel guests.  That didn't stop a few of the passengers, though, and as the morning dragged into the afternoon, much of the food had been eaten.  What were we to do?  There was an oriental restaurant attached to the motel, but it didn't open until 11:30 a.m.

To pass the time there was a TV on that some folks watched, while others grouped into conversations, still others slept.  Glad I had the sudoku puzzles!  I wish I had audio "scratch and sniff" so you could hear the snoring!!!

About the people, though...I don't know names, so I give them 'character' names...


Sailor Boy:  He had served his time in the Navy, and had many stories to tell, keeping the folks in good humor.  He was tall, with a shaved head except for the blond hair right down the middle of his head, front to back, that he said would stand up in a long spike if he wanted it that way.  He was in his 30s and in my estimation had developed a certain kind of wisdom through his life lessons.  I was impressed when he said he was going to help himself to a bagel (like the other two guys who rushed forward after getting off the bus), but didn't because it would be selfish to do so, especially since he wasn't hungry.


Momma Care-y:  She was a middle-aged woman traveling with her son who looked to be in his late teens or early twenties.  She was accompanying him to a Denver Broncos football game.  I think the son had some medical or mental issues and that is why mom was with him.  Well, grandma lives with Momma Care-y and football son and was by herself while they traveled to Denver. She called on the cell phone because she couldn't get the TV to work.  After about 20 minutes of Momma Care-y VERY patiently repeating the steps to get the TV to work, some of us broke out in laughter.  It reminded me of a stand-up comedy routine.  "Press Input, scroll down.  No, don't push the button on the left.  Start over.  You need to push the button quickly".  Etcetera.


Recovering Grandma-to-be:  She was almost 40 and going to visit her 19-year old daughter in Arkansas who was having a baby.  She didn't look much older than 19 herself!  She said she had been addicted to alcohol and drugs in the past, and she had turned her life over to God.  She had been completely sober for two years.  She was accompanied by her mother (so there would be four generations of the family at that birth).  Mother was still married to an alcoholic, who was 'improving', and who didn't want her to travel to Arkansas with her daughter.  She said she was going anyway.  I'm glad for her.


Princess Ponytail:  She was almost 10 years old I learned through lots of miles of traveling, seated behind her.  She had the two adjacent seats to herself, but she was a wiggly little girl, in constant motion and 'conversation' with her mother.  Only trouble was that her mother was engaged in some kind of lovey-dovey thing with a male companion, and she paid no attention to her daughter.  My assessment of the situation was something I've seen many times through my work as a social worker - abandonment of child by mother for relationship with male.  'Ponytail' seemed to be a typical nine-year old who just needed some maternal attention.  When I asked her if she was going to rest at all, she said no, she didn't feel like it.  After a short break a little down the road, her mother sat with her instead of 'macho-boy' and she went right to sleep.  She has developed some skills of independence, by default, and she spent her time flitting from one maternal passenger to another at the Rodeway Inn, where she got the attention she so craved from her mother.  

One of the other passengers told me that until I got on the bus this child was almost out of control and her mother did nothing to correct her.  That changed when I got on - and I know that that's because I engaged her with some attention.  I really didn't want to - somehow I always end up next to the kids who are traveling 'alone', and I could have used the rest.  But it was either to struggle through the 'wiggles' and the up-and-down in the seat, or get her to settle a little by talking to her.


Dinosaur Man":  He traveled on a bus earlier in the trip; but I want to mention him because he had impact on the way to Rapid City.  He was black, with a 'diamond' post in each ear, traveling with his small son, and presumably his girl friend, although she didn't 'appear' until later.  At one quick stop the bus driver announced that no one was to leave the bus as it was only stopping to let people off.  Dinosaur Man got off with his son.  He, not the son, was wearing what I call an adult 'onesie'.  It was a fleece one-piece jumpsuit, gray with green dinosaurs printed on it.  I think it had feet in it because it continued into the man's sport shoes.


When he got back on the bus, the bus driver chastised him for getting off.  The man offered that he had to get milk for his kid.


Many miles later the bus driver addressed the person who had just come out of the restroom, and asked him to step to the front of the bus.  The driver pulled the bus to the shoulder of the interstate highway and he and the man got out.  Apparently the man had been smoking in the restroom, which is banned on the buses.


When we came to the next stop, the driver put the man, his child, and the girlfriend off the bus - they were nowhere near their destination.  The driver apologized to the passengers, explaining that the man had been drinking and he had been warned before about drinking and smoking on the bus.


Such a cross-section of America!


To continue the day's trip - after a couple of false starts, that included a dead battery on the bus that brought us to Cheyenne, transferring passengers from another bus to the dead bus, a very cranky bus driver, cranky passengers who were never informed about what was going on, and getting a wrecker to jump-start the bus' battery, we got on the road to Denver around 4:00 p.m.  And you know that Philly cheese half-sandwich I saved?  I ate it for lunch!

We arrived in Denver after another three or four hours - it doesn't take three to four hours to get to Denver, but the driver took us through Greeley, Longmont,  and a couple more stops before we finally arrived around 8:00 p.m.   I inquired at the ticket counter about the bus to Albuquerque because I'd missed my connection (at 12:30 p.m.).  She said the next bus was leaving at 8:30.  So I quickly obtained a sandwich and water and got into the Albuquerque line.  Another woman passenger who had ridden to Cheyenne and then Denver with me needed to get on this bus that was eventually going to Phoenix.  There were several people in line with very large bags, and it soon became clear that not all of us were going to get on this bus.  The other woman's bags were supposed to be transferred to this bus and she couldn't get a straight answer if that had happened.  She suggested that we go to the front of the line.  And when I went up there, the driver checked my ticket - Denver to Las Cruces - and I was asked where my bags were.  As I only had a carry-on, the bus driver took my bag, got on the bus with it, put it in the overhead compartment for me, and offered me the last available seat...


I'd like to say that that was the last glitch in the trip; however, when we got to Colorado Springs, only an hour south of Denver, the driver announced that we'd hit a car and that the roads were very icey; and later he announced that we had a mechanical issue that needed to be resolved before we could continue.  So two hours later, we finally left Colorado Springs.  I had been wondering if my luck of getting that last seat was going to turn sour!


I called my friend from Denver to let him know I'd be arriving in the morning instead of the evening as originally scheduled - so he had to change his plans - and I felt badly about that.  And as it turned out I called him again just before he was leaving to pick me up in Las Cruces to say that it would be another three hours from Albuquerque to Las Cruces.  He was very gracious about the changes, and I am so appreciative!


I arrived in Las Cruces at 10:00 a.m. and my friend was already in the city doing some shopping.  We connected quickly and he drove to Deming while I filled him in only a little about this adventure.


This trip was brought to you for the five minutes at Pennington County, SD licensing department necessary to get a $20 five-year driver's license as required by my change of address.










 

Rapid City - "Home Sweet Home" - Last Part

I'm concluding this part of the story with the second day I was in Rapid City.  I woke up to another cold, windy day, with snow showers.  While making coffee I watched the news and was so surprised to hear about President Obama's selection for the Nobel Peace award.  I'm a great fan of this President, and while he definitely has his detractors, I believe he does deserve to be recognized for the actions he's taken toward world peace.  And that's all I'll say about it here.

I waited until after the President's speech to go to breakfast.  I walked across the street to a little restaurant named Tally's.  I had a small one-egg breakfast and then headed back to the beauty school for my pedicure.  I had told the hotel clerk that I had an appointment that would take me past the 11:00 checkout time, and he said I could have until noon before I'd be charged for another day.

For the next hour and a half my feet were pampered and I had a lovely conversation with Elisha.  She painted my toenails a wonderful shade of bright coral; however, two coats were taking quite a lot of time to dry, and noon was approaching fast.  I didn't want to put on my shoes because I'd mess up the polish, so I gave my payment to Elisha to take care of, put on my coat, and carried my shoes out the door...I walked barefoot, on the cold pavement - it was a short walk to the hotel, and as weird as it sounds, my feet didn't seem to mind the temperature!  It was also fun to do something I'd never done before, that most females do when they are silly teenagers!

I got back to the hotel just in time to collect my bag out of my room and check out - 12:04 p.m.  As the bus was not leaving until 5:30 I spent the rest of the day speaking with the hotel clerk about the current downtown affairs regarding the historic district - politics as usual - and taking photos of some of the details of the lobby.  For more information about the Alex Johnson Hotel you can go to this link:  http://www.alexjohnson.com/info/history.html 

I also spent some time visiting again with the women in the hotel gift shop, and working some sudoku puzzles.  About 3:00 I left with my bag and headed for a late lunch at the Firehouse Brewery.  I bought a Philly cheese sandwich, ate half and took the rest with me for another meal later, after I boarded the bus.  I then walked down to the bus station around 4:30.  The skies were gray and the wind was harsh.  When I got to the station I inquired about the bus and was told that a decision to run the route would be made later; the bus might not be going because of bad weather (snow) west of Rapid City...Eventually it was decided that the bus would be going as scheduled.  At 5:30 the passengers boarded, and we were off to another adventure!

Rapid City - "Home Sweet Home" - Part Two

(Note:  I've change to the updated editor for this blog so the visual result may be different from previous posts.)

Prairie Edge is an exquisite place to find and appreciate Native American art. I spoke briefly with the manager of this store about what I feel is sacred about some of the offerings.  He basically said that it is art, mostly for display in private homes and other places.  And the artists are glad to provide their creations to the public.  It is art, and it is for sale...

One of the things that was not for sale, however, was the unique chandelier that hung over the counter.  The bottom of the chandelier is made of leather, with paintings of horses, I suspect depicting the Four Directions. 

It was hard to get a good angle to photograph it, but I think I did okay.  I asked ahead if it was all right to photograph the art that is available for purchase, and was given permission to do so.  

So here is a collection of photos of some of the handsome 'regalia'.  In another section of the store there was a display of Pendleton blankets, and also a display of start quilts.  These quilts are a traditional gift of honor.  I happened to be in the store the week before a big powwow, so craft items were on sale.  I went into the bead section and ended up buying quite a few seed bead hanks at 20% off.  Nice!!!

After making my purchase of beads I went down the street to find a place to get a late lunch.  I had stopped in the Celtic shop earlier and spoken with the owner who recommended the "Highlander Grog" at Alternative Fuel, a coffee shop nearby.  It was a short walk, and as I entered and began to peruse the goodies available, someone recommended the chicken pot pie, but they had run out...Oh, no!  A new batch had just come out of the oven!  Yay!  It was tasty, and so was that Highlander Grog.  So glad I went!

Having been filled with tummy-warming food, I continued my walk around the block, and was surprised to find a Tandy leather store tucked into the storefronts.  I had been wanting to find some scrap suede leather for my beadwork, and I was delighted that they had a small selection, enough for my current needs.

Before I left Deming I had wanted to cut my hair, but the day I planned to do it it was raining, so I said 'never mind.'  As I continued my walk, I discovered a beauty school.  I went inside and a little while later had a hair cut at a reasonable price, and an appointment for a 'mean pedicure'!

I was heading into the home stretch, getting closer to the hotel when I spied a pet store named Paws, with paw prints across the front door.  In the storefront were three parrots and a cockatiel (I think).  As I approached to take a photo of the two parrots together, the one that was facing out turned around so I only saw both of their backs.  Eventually, though I manage to get a better picture of all four birds.  Then I went inside.

The owner of the shop is named Barbara.  We had quite a chat about her dogs that kept her company in the store.  One was a large retriever-type dog named Bella that had been neglected by being locked in a cage for many hours at a time by her disabled owner. She was very shy, but she did allow me to pet her.  The other was a small shaggy affair name Lola.  She was very gregarious and appeared to be the welcoming committee.  The shop carries specially-made goodies for pets, and they were freely displayed at the main counter.

After a brief chat I left (no, I didn't buy any goodies there!) and headed back to the hotel. I decided to forego a regular dinner as I'd eaten lunch late.  I still had some tuna and crackers I'd carried on the bus, and that was plenty for the evening.

Rapid City - "Home Sweet Home" - Part One

I was originally given a room on the sixth floor; however, from the time I entered the room I heard the yappy bark of a small dog from next door. So after dinner I asked to have another room. I was given a room on the seventh floor - not quite as nice, but a lot quieter. Turns out the dog was a teacup poodle that had arrived with its owner the same day as I.

After a fairly good sleep that first night, I awoke to snow showers and white rooftops. I took a few photos through the window, and made some coffee, then called the number for the taxi that was recommended by the hotel, to go to the county driver licensing department. The cab driver came right away and after arriving at the licensing building, only about five minutes later I had a new South Dakota driver's license, good for five years. I was the only person in line!

I then asked the driver to take me to the mail service address to pick up my waiting mail. When we arrived it was just 9:00 a.m., the time that the mail service office opened, but no one was there. As I had asked the driver to wait for me, the meter was still running. The cost of the office opening late to me was an additional $5 to my tab. I was not impressed!!!

I returned to the hotel around 9:30 and decided to spend the rest of the day playing. For a while I visited with the two women in the hotel's gift shop. One of them is from the Ogalala tribe and has been a leader in her tribe. The other one, quite a bit younger, is the daughter of the woman who runs the Celtic store around the corner (I found this out later in my journey...) We had a nice chat and then I headed out to discover what was in the neighborhood.

Across the street from the hotel is an antique shop, known as The Bag Lady. I think her name is Blanche, and this is a photo of her...










Overlaid on the historic district is the Presidents Park where 35 bronze sculptures are placed on the corners of the streets. In addition, there are other sculptures placed throughout the area. Here are some photos of some of these...








The name of this sculpture is "Mitakuye Oyasin" and the plaque states, "This sculpture represents hope for reconciliation, dignity,
and respect for all the human race. The earth itself is in the shape of a hoop or circle of life. The crossed pipes represent
world peace..."







Thomas Jefferson
James Monroe
Jimmy Carter












Ronald Reagan












This street contains the firehouse Brewery and Prairie Edge, a fantastic gift/art store.

I call these "belly laugh pots."

Where to Begin?

As Lewis Carroll said, "Begin at the beginning and go on till you come to the end; then stop."

As directed by the agent with Jefferson Lines, I left Deming about 9:00 a.m. on Monday, Oct. 5. When the bus came, a little late, the bus driver gave me flack for having a ticket for six hours later; however, he did let me board the bus, which was going to El Paso. I could get my ticket amended there.

El Paso: I had about an hour layover in El Paso, so I stepped into the ticket line as soon as I got off the bus. It took about 45 minutes to get to the agent. At the counter I was told that to change my ticket would cost another $15, which I wasn't willing to pay, as the change was made by the bus line. I then placed a call to Jefferson Lines and after waiting 10 minutes on hold finally spoke with one of their agents. When I told her about my problem, she checked my ticket, and said that my original schedule had not been changed, and I wouldn't have to pay any fee to change my ticket, as it was the line's change. As we were talking, the call to board for Dallas came, so I told her I would call again after I got settled on the bus. So, as I had a ticket for Dallas, I got on the next bus that went there, even if the time was early.

En-route to Dallas: I called Jefferson Lines again, waiting another 10 minutes on hold to speak with the agent, who had gone on break. The agent I spoke with again verified that there was no problem with the original route or schedule, and apologized for the error. I wasn't going to Minneapolis afterall!!! But now I would have a 10-hour layover in Dallas instead of a six-hour layover.

Dallas: Arrived in Dallas at 3:00 a.m. Watched TV and waited until about 5:30 a.m. to get some breakfast - a very good breakfast burrito - yum! Had a couple of large cups of coffee and did some sudoku puzzles, and just watched the activity in the station. Around noon I boarded the next bus, heading to Oklahoma City.

The rest of the trip to South Dakota took me through several cities I've not been in before, such as Oklahoma City (I took some photos, but must have erased them), Tulsa, Oklahoma, and many smaller places along the way (Denton, TX; Norman, OK; Omaha, NE; Sioux City, IA). It was night time for most of these places. The route also went through Kansas City, MO, where I've been through a few times in previous travels - no major stops at any of these places, however.

All the buses were pretty full, although I did manage to mostly have a 'row' to myself. I had forgotten how little leg space there is between rows, and did my best to stretch out. Amazingly, my back wasn't too distressed.

I transferred buses in Dallas, Kansas City, and Sioux Falls, SD. From Sioux Falls to Rapid City was the entire day of Oct. 7 - I arrived in Rapid City around 5:30 p.m. and walked the two blocks to my hotel, the Alex Johnson, a historic landmark in the downtown Rapid City historic district.

After checking into my room, even very weary, I decided I needed to shower and take myself to a nice dinner. I arrived at the Firehouse Brewery, around the corner from the hotel, and ordered a wheat beer and a buffalo burger...

To be continued...

"Leave the Driving to Us"

Thought you'd enjoy some 'stories' about bus travel. I leave tomorrow morning - major transfers will be in Dallas, Kansas City, Minneapolis, and somewhere else, a total of four. Since I don't have my new ticket yet, I'm not sure of all the changes.

Will write again when I get back, as I'm not taking my laptop with me.

The Alchemy of Traveling

Or, "How to Make Gold from Lead (lemonade from lemons, perhaps) - Using Public Transportation".

About two months ago, after changing my vehicle registration and mail service to South Dakota, I decided that the easiest and least expensive way to complete the transfer, by getting a driver's license, was to take the bus. To drive, either with or without the rig, would be very time consuming, and more expensive than 'leave the driving to us.' So I went online at Greyhound.com to see what a route might look like, and how much it might cost. A round trip at that time was $154 - a great price; however, as I wasn't quite sure about the details I waited to buy a ticket.

A couple of weeks later, I again went online to purchase the ticket, and learned that I couldn't get a ticket online because the route had been changed and I would not be able to get from New Mexico to South Dakota, using Greyhound. After doing some research, I learned that Jefferson Bus Lines could route me to South Dakota, but I'd have to go through Dallas instead of Albuquerque. Again I hesitated, and this time the round trip with Jefferson was $188. As I had planned to buy the 21-day advance ticket to get the best fare, it was necessary to plan out the funds and schedule for traveling so I'd be in position to leave from the bus station in Deming.

Being interested in astrology, I realized that Mercury would be retrograde for most of September, so I bought my ticket just before it went retro, with my departure date of October 5, after the retro. Again, there was a glitch in the routing, so I needed to purchase not a round-trip ticket, but two one-way tickets. Final price $182.50. I was advised to contact the bus line a few days before departure to verify the schedule.

Today I called Jefferson Bus Lines to learn that yes, once again, I would be re-routed to get to South Dakota. This time, through Minneapolis (although I will still be going through Dallas), and leaving six hours earlier than before, arrival time in South Dakota remaining the same. Now I have a ticket that is not valid, and that will have to be replaced at an 'official' bus station, not at the Chevron station where I'm to begin my trip.

I report this calmly; however, I was beginning to get a little agitated when I was referred to the El Paso station to inquire about the replacement ticket and the woman there had no idea what I was talking about. She told me to call Jefferson Bus Lines and later gave me the 800 number for Greyhound. After a misunderstanding with the first contact at that number I got a regular agent who was able to advise me about how to get the replacement ticket.

I'm writing this so any of you who might ever consider using the bus networks, will know what you can expect. Hopefully, you won't have any particular deadline to keep, so you can be flexible enough to travel at the whims of the bus companies! I am trying to keep calm and make this trip a bit of a 'fun' trip. I've never been to Minneapolis, or Rapid City, which is my primary destination. I might meet some interesting characters and be able to write about them; take some photos, and learn something new. And after I get there I can pick up my mail in person and be taken to lunch!

I'm fortunate to have a friend who is also pretty flexible about taking me to the pick-up point in Deming (even with the changed time of departure), and who is willing to pick me up in Las Cruces, 60 miles away, where I would have an 11-hour layover otherwise.

And while I'm gone the truck will be with the mechanic getting some new parts and an oil change. Then we'll both be ready to travel together once again, after I've rested!

Note: The photo is a hanging I made out of old CDs, found fish line, gifted paint and brushes - all recycled materials. On the backs are the words "Peace", "Joy", "Love", and "Laughter", respectively. These are the things I try to put into my life everyday.