Home Sweet Home!

Trip-456 miles

Log-6076 miles

Made it home late last night after a long drive.

Stopped at a few rest stops along the way.

This is one of our favorites in Wisconsin.

This is another at the top of Lake Michigan.

We rolled over 6000 miles somewhere near the Mackinaw Bridge in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan.

Good to be home in our own bed for a change.

Home sweet home!

Trip Summary:
We traveled a total of 6076 miles in 39 days.  Driving time was 118 hours and 41 minutes (Average ~ 51 mph) and we visited 13 states, 5 National Parks or Monuments, One Army Base and slept in 15 different beds.

Had a great time and the best was being with friends and family we love!

Milwaukee with great friends!

The last few days we enjoyed a great time in Milwaukee with our dear friends Cheryl and Bruce at their beautiful home in New Berlin.

Cheryl's special roasted butternut squash with Penne pasta was to die for and we all had too much to eat and drink but it was a great reunion time!

Had a chance to spend some time downtown Milwaukee taking in the sites and enjoying great food and drink (the Cosmopolitans are perfect at Elsia's). 

The Milwaukee Art Museum was especially fun with the Andy Warhol collection on display, some of it strange but all very interesting and colorful.

Thanks Cheryl for the special tour!

Matt's Resting Place!

Trip-200 miles


Log-5620 miles

Today we spent a peaceful day picking apples at the Apple Hill Farm (Frank and Terrie's Home) with Dennis and Mary (Linda's brother and sister).

We had a special private memorial for Matt at his final resting place and a nice lunch in Newburg.

Home in Wauwatosa!

We spent the last few days with our dear Godson and his lovely wife Tim and Nicole at their beautiful home in Wauwatosa just a few blocks from Miller Park.

The fall colors were still at their peak in the back yard and neighborhood.

We so enjoyed their warm hospitality and comfortable home and the special visit from their little friend Ralph made it extra memorable!

Thanks so much for having us!

Today we had time to drive to Madison and visit our dear aunt Felice.  It was so good to see her and visit while she was in the hospital after a fall she had recently.  She will be celebrating her 90th birthday next week so it was a special occasion!  Happy Birthday Aunt Felice!

Happy Birthday Sister!

Back to our roots in Milwaukee, WI and staying with our Godson and his lovely wife (Tim and Nicole).

Yesterday, after a lot of planning and doing everything in secret so she would not be aware of the party we were able to pull off a great surprise party for my sister Jane Ellen on her 65th birthday and planned retirement next month.

A great time was had by all sharing wonderful memories, good food and drink and of course a little bowling to celebrate the day!

Welcome back Wisconsin!

Trip-241 miles

Log-5277 miles

Today was a relatively short trip so we took our time and enjoyed the day and the sights along the way.

We made an unscheduled stop at Starved Rock Lock and Dam and toured the museum and lock facility from a different point of view (land).

Just a year ago we were going through the lock heading South on the Illinois River on the sailboat so our view was quite different (water).  We actually had to wait several days for this lock to open because of the worst flood they ever had. See photo to left taken September 2008.

It was nice to get back to Wisconsin to see our friends and relatives here.

Trip Across the Heartland!

Trip-614 miles

Log-5036 miles

Great trip to Illinois through Oklahoma, and Missouri.

Still traveling along the old Route 66 highway.

Enjoyed many rest stops along the way adding to our history lesson and the much needed pit stop!

Overnight at Bloomington, IL after driving through Saint Louis and the Arch.  Didn't have time to stop but definitely will the next time we drive through Saint Louis.

A long but pleasant drive, rain and cloudy all day.

Historic Fort Sill and Oklahoma City!

Trip-164 miles

Log-4422 miles

A great day visiting the Army Artillery Museum at Fort Sill, Oklahoma.

I spent 8 weeks here in the Winter of 1964 for my Artillery Individual Training before being assigned to the 25th Infantry Division in Hawaii.

It brought back some good and bad memories of those difficult training days.

The 105mm Howitzer was the most effective weapon in WWII, Korean War and the Vietnam War.  All the training for cannoreers was accomplished here at Fort Sill.

We continued North today to Oklahoma City.

Toured the State Capitol Building and the Art Gallery inside.

We then went to the National Memorial for the Oklahoma City Bombing in 1995, where 168 innocent people were killed, it was quite moving.

Stayed near Oklahoma City for the night will continue our journey north early tomorrow morning.

Historic Route 66 to Oklahoma!

Trip-466 miles

Log-4258 miles

Had a good travel day through Eastern New Mexico, Texas Panhandle and Central Oklahoma.

Traveled along the old Route 66 highway on Interstate 40.

Sad to see the deterioration of the old highway and the motels, diners and gas stations gone forever.

There are quite a few museums dedicated to their memory and we had a chance to visit one in Clinton, OK.

It was quite interesting and brought back some great memories of our trip in 1962 from Milwaukee to Pasadena to see the Wisconsin Badgers in the Rose Bowl game.

Stopped in Weatherford, OK where we spent the night in 1962.

A Day in Santa Fe!

Trip-181 miles

Log-3792 miles

We were able to spend a beautiful day in Santa Fe, New Mexico.  It is the historic state capitol and very quaint.

Visited the oldest operating Church in the United States.

San Miguel Catholic Church is beautiful.

Had a great mexican lunch across from the Capitol.

Attended the New Mexico session of the Senate where discussions of budget cuts were being held as an emergency session because of huge deficits.

Then drove through a heavy rain and wind storm to Santa Rosa, NM.

The High Road to Albuquerque!

Trip-460 miles
Log-3611 miles

On our trip heading East we decided to get off the Interstate for awhile and take a more scenic route.  Got on highway 60 out of Phoenix through the mountains and were rewarded with some beautiful vistas across the Salt River Canyon.
It was a wonderful drive and enjoyed the historic little mining towns from the 1880's.




Got back on Interstate 40 (the old route 66) at the Petrified Forest and Painted Desert National Park.  We enjoyed the visit and especially the  film on the history and highlights of the park.

We arrived in Albuquerque late but the sight of all the twinkling lights of the city was beautiful!

Fun with Riley Jane!

We sure had a wonderful weekend with Riley and her parents.

Took a long walk in the morning.

Played a lot and Riley loves her books.

Enjoyed a great Green Bay Packer win!

Riley is all set for Halloween, she looks so cute in her Minnie Mouse costume!




We sure enjoyed our visit to Phoenix and their beautiful home in the desert!  Thanks so much for having us!