2014 Circle of the US Trip - Wrap Up

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After 90 nights and 12976 miles we are glad to be home but also sad that this wonderful trip/adventure has ended.

The map below was our route around the U.S. (Click on it to enlarge).  The various colors indicate elevations/grades with red indication the highest/steepest grades, blue moderate, and the light blue- green indicating relatively flat and low elevations.

As we look back on the trip some highlights come to mind.

Montana has always been one of my favorite places and I think Linda agrees.  Being able to spend some time in Red Lodge, travel the Beartooth Highway, and the Lamar Valley in Yellowstone was clearly a highlight.

Red Lodge

The Bear Tooth.

We enjoyed our time at Theodore Roosevelt National Park in North Dakota and the fun Medora Musical in a magnificent  amphitheater.  The population of the entire county is about 800 or less and I think all of them are employed in the park, town, or the Musical.

Bison in the park

Medora Musical

Our time around the Great Lakes (we saw all of them) was a real experience.  From Duluth, WI, St. Ignace, Mackinac Island, and Sault Ste Marie, MI then around to Niagara Falls and finally Buffalo, NY.

Ishpeming, MI

Grand Hotel on Mackinac Island



Relaxing after lunch at the Grand Hotel

Ship coming from Soo Locks



Soo Locks

A real treat for us was spending time at our friend's cottage on a lake near Parry Sound, ON.  It was so beautiful and peaceful just sitting on the porch visiting and gazing at the lake just feet away.

We met several Northwood RV owners at the East Coast Rally in Kingston, Ontario, something I like to do wherever we go.  The potluck was great.

Vermont was another state we really liked with small quaint towns and farms all across the state.  The RV park we stayed in was one that Linda said she could spend more time in.  Everyone was so friendly.

This time we were able to see Acadia National Park at Bar Harbor, ME in good weather.  We visited it previously on a New England/Canada cruise and it was foggy, windy, and rainy.

We walked the bridge at Concord in Minuteman National Historic Park where the "shot heard around the world" was the beginning of the American Revolution.  It was a  incredible feeling and experience.

On to Gettysburg National Battlefield to another time and war.  The incredible loss of life is unimaginable.  It was a turning point in the civil war with Lee retreating to Virginia.

Shenandoah National Park and the Blue Ridge Parkway were beautiful even if we were too early for the peak fall color.  On this stretch we were able to visit Thomas Jefferson's Monticello and visit a cousin I hadn't seen in at least 40 years in West Virginia.  That too was a pretty drive and we found out what is meant by the hills and hollows of West Virginia.

Monticello

Blue Ridge Parkway

Ashville, NC and the Biltmore Estate, Charleston, SC, and Savannah, GA allowed us to visit and enjoy places we hadn't been before.  In Charleston a cousin and wife met us for lunch.  We also visited Fort Sumter where the Civil war began.  Being able to visit the place two American wars began was a special experience.

Biltmore Estate, Asheville, NC

Old Slave Mart, Charleston, SC

City Market

Fort Sumter

River Street, Savannah, GA

Next it was on to Great Smoky Mountain National Park for a few days but the weather wasn't the best to see the beauty of the park.  There was some color but again, not near peak.

Nashville, TN and Branson, MO provided plenty of entertainment with shows at the Ryman and the Grand Ole Opry and four shows in Branson.  In Nashville our Chicago friends joined us for 5 days for the shows and we toured the Hermitage, the plantation of Andrew Jackson as well as a number of other attractions.  Again visiting homes of two presidents from different eras was a highlight.

Backstage tour of the Ryman Auditorium.

 The Hermitage

Linda and Marge

At Branson the Dutton Family was the best show we saw.

Getting closer to home and back into the west we visited Santa Fe, Taos, NM, Canyon de Chelly and Grand Canyon, AZ.  All interesting and well worth seeing.

Santa Fe Plaza

Canyon de Chelly

Grand Canyon

At the Grand Canyon the urge to get home was stronger than the desire to see more so we made the two day drive home with a stop in Bakersfield for the night.

At a few points in our blog we indicated we were on a quilt shop-hop and ice cream shop tour.  I know that Linda really enjoyed visiting all the quilt shops we found along the way.  Along with me she kind of liked the ice cream stops too.

Cody, WY quilt shop



Charleston, SC quilt shop

The ice cream was found in lots of places as were the quilt shops.

The real highlight was the trip itself, being able to see so much of the country, the history, and the people along the way.  An incredible trip.

The best was that it didn't cost too much more than being at home.  We suspended our telephone, cable, internet, and garbage services.  As we weren't home our power bill was minimal which during the summer months is pretty big,  Also if you subtract normal fuel, food, miscellaneous and entertainment spending at home along with the suspended services savings it was not expensive to spend three months on the road.

I am already thinking about where to go on the next trip and while Linda wants to go again, just not right away (not for at least three months!!).  She has grandchildren to visit and spend time with.

South Rim Grand Canyon National Park

Saturday 10/25

We drove up through Kayenta to Tuba and Cameron, AZ, then into Grand Canyon National Park from the East Desert View entrance station and arrived early afternoon.  We are camped at Grand Canyon Trailer Village, the one campground that has full hookups. 

The campground is all pull through sites that are typical of RV parks with slightly more space in between sites than some we have been in.  The sites are all paved asphalt with concrete curbs and gravel in between.  There is a shuttle bus stop at the entrance to the campground.  There are three shuttle bus loops depending on where you want to go.  The BLUE route circles most of the main village and lodge locations.  The RED route goes out to Hermit’s Rest and the overlooks along the way (the shuttle bus is the only way to access these overlooks).  The ORANGE route goes to east side locations and is the only way to access South Kaibab Trailhead and Yaki Point.

After setting up we checked out the Market Plaza area with the general store, bank, post office, and of course a gift shop.

Sunday 10/26

The closer we get to home the stronger the urge to get there becomes.  This morning we decided we didn’t need two full days (3 nights) so we cancelled the third night and will leave here on Monday.

We set out to take the RED route shuttle to see the overlooks on the way to Hermit’s Rest.  Thinking we could find a parking place nearby we drove to the shuttle stop and did find one fairly close.  Of course it was fairly early but even then most of the parking lots near the lodges and shopping were already full.

We took so many pictures at the various overlooks that it is hard to identify them by pictures.  They were all great views.  The weather was perfect.

After returning from the overlooks we felt it would be much easier to return to the trailer and take the BLUE route shuttle to the Visitor Center, Lodges, studios, and shops by driving to the Market Plaza with the post office to mail a post card then catch the shuttle there.

Visitor Center

Linda found a kitty to pet.

After we checked out the Visitor Center our first stop was the famous El Tovar Lodge to have lunch, quite good!  Next was the Hopi House to see the Native American Art for sale.  Then down the trail to the Lookout, a gift shop, and on to the Kolb Studio art gallery.   

El Tovar Lodge from Kolb Studio.

Of course there was a madness to our parking at the Market Plaza to catch the shuttle; a gift shop there.

Monday 10/27

We are at the Orange Grove RV Park on the east side of Bakersfield tonight.  It was a long day.  So tomorrow it will be about a 5 hour drive to home.

After we get settled at home we will do a wrap up post.  It has been a great trip and I am already thinking where to go next.  Linda is planning to see the grandchildren next!