2018 10 03 - 2018 10 08 Covered Wagon RV Park, Strataca Salt Mine, Heritage Center, Cap'n Jacks Pub

Covered Wagon RV Park, Abilene, Kansas - 4 October 2018 

Getting ready for our next adventure. Things have turned a little cooler from the warm, steamy weather we encountered when we arrived in St. Louis.

Strataca Underground Salt Mine/Museum, Hutchinson, Kansas - 5 October 2018 (Happy Birthday, Kristen)

The good news about this side trip is that it really does not matter what the weather is topside. The temperature down below is a constant 68 degrees year-round. As you can see in the background above, it was seriously foggy when we started out today. So foggy, in fact, that we needed to rely on GPS since we couldn't see the cross streets at 65 mph until we were past them.   

It's about 50 degrees but with no sun out we didn't spend much time outside. This is still a working mine but that portion is several acres away from this entrance. 

After securing our hard hats, we are all set for the plunge. The elevator is a double decker which allows them to load 15 people in a car, raise or lower to the second car and load more 15 more people. They can also use it to lower equipment or supplies.  See you down below, 650 feet takes about 90 seconds.

After passing through a frozen aquifer and countless layers of rock and silt, the 6-ton hoist delivers us for our self-guided tour through the discontinued portion of the mine. This area was mined when it was opened, back in 1923. The walls are layered with salt and mud. This mine mostly provides road salt for many states around the country and livestock salt for inclusion with feed (instead of a salt lick). 

This area has not been worked since the 1940s and 50s. The Permian Room formed by the Permian Sea long ago. But do not touch the walls or ceiling. The salt is sharp and will cut skin, allowing salt and bacteria into the cut. OUCH!!

Bob found this salt rock but it's just not the right size to take home. 

The original company that started the mine was the Carey Salt Company. While some aspects were mechanized early on, there were many jobs which were done by hand, like loading the salt into the carts for the final ride up the hoist and out of the mine. 

The slogan down here is, "Whatever goes into the mine, stays in the mine". It is time consuming and labor intensive to remove things once they have been sent down. It's easier to just leave it unless it is absolutely required. There were piles of left over items, from cone paper cups (a plentiful item), cigarette packages, light bulb packaging, two thumb gloves (wear it til the palm wears out, turn it over and wear it again), even shoes. Everything, except metals and rubber, are well preserved.  

This mine area is now used to store records, movie props (Iceman, Batman and Mr. Smith).  

Row upon row of movie canisters (Shawshank Redemption, for example). Also considered was storage of spent nuclear reactor rods. Salt dissipates heat very well but this mine is actually shrinking so that storage was moved to a different salt mine. 

As each area was not needed and airflow needed elsewhere, the miners blocked up certain tunnels with old dynamite boxes filled with salt and stacked three deep. Now, with the demise of dynamite and use of  ammonium nitrate and fuel oil there were no more boxes. The sheeting behind the fallen boxes are lighter, easier to install and less porous.

You can schedule events from weddings, corporate meetings (both benefit from lack of cell service) and local Dinner Theater event. 

Bob tried his hands with a pick ax. Not nearly as effective as the massive machinery the salt mines use. 

Heritage Center, Abilene, Kansas - 6 October 2018

The 1901 C.W. Parker Carousel - Charles Wallace Parker moved to Abilene with his family and bought a used carousel in 1892. While making repairs, he would replace the manufacturer's name with his own. The mechanism use to drive the carousel is a steam engine outside with a drive belt from the red wheel through the open door. The interesting thing about this carousel is that the horses rock back and forth and have no poles. 

Big red barn housing farm implements.

A lumber sawmill. The wheel to the left was driven by a John Deere tractor. 

Princess Phone looks familiar, Betty.

Inside displays included rooms full of old telephones and other items.

A carpenter's toolbox, very similar to the one we had in our basement in Florida, Chicago and St. Louis from my dad's grandfather.

High Plaines Camping, Oakley, Kansas - 7 October 2018

As we drove into the campground, I kept looking at the sign for Cap'n Jack's Pub because it looked so familiar. Then it came to both of us. On our very first trip after leaving Sioux Falls a year ago, we stopped here overnight and ate pizza at Jack's. Surprisingly good food and well reviewed in the area.

Now, if it would just STOP RAINING!

2018 09 24 - 2018 10 01 St. Louis Scottish Games, 370 Lakeside, Mike's House and Camping near Harry Truman Lake, Warsaw, Mo

370 Lakeside Park, St. Peters, Missouri - 27 Sep 2018

Happy Anniversary to us on completing our first year as full-time RVers. In that time, we have driven almost 25,000 miles, though our home has only been with us for 11,750 of those miles. We have been in 26 different states but some states we have visited more than once. We have been to many places we have wanted to see for years - cherry blossoms, Carlsbad Caverns, White Sands National Park, Mount Rushmore, Assateague Island horses, Holocaust Museum and visiting relatives and friends across the country. Several people have asked how long we plan to continue to live this way? So far, we have no plans to "retire" to a stick and brick home any time soon. In fact, we don't even want to re-evaluate this plan for several more years. We have so many things left on our list to see and do. We will be spending this winter in Arizona and hope we have better weather than last winter. 

Scottish Games and Cultural Festival, Chesterfield, MO - 29 September 2018

Friday was Opening day. Bob and I met up with his brothers at the Douglas Clan tent. The banner says "Of all the names of Scotland...Only ONE NAME could cause the English to quake in their boots or turn tail and run. Only ONE NAME had the power and prestige to provoke the Stewart kings to jealousy and murder. One ONE NAME can claim its history as the history of Scotland itself.
We are here to represent that ONE NAME and all the other names that comprised that ONE GREAT HOUSE: the House of Douglas!"

As the sun went down it turned windy and dropped the temperatures into the low 50s. We had to lower the tent to keep it from blowing over. One Clan was not so lucky and their tent almost went over the fence and on to the runway of the Spirit of St. Louis Airport. 

Bob and Tom in their Douglas plaid kilts. I'm sure I heard some complaining about how "breezy" things were compared to wearing pants. We were all very chilly by the end of the night and thankful to Jim and Jan who had extra jackets and a blanket for those of us in need. 

The final show was the "Celtic Rock Concert". 

Saturday, 29 September 2018

Saturday began with Piping, Drumming and Massed Pipebands competition. We may not have recognized some of the songs they played but we have enjoyed music competitions ever since Kristen was in High School.

A demonstration of sheep herding with a Border Collie is always a fun and enjoyable time. 

The first athletic competition was the traditional Tug of War by local police and firemen. 

Preparing for the Parade of Tartans and joined by another brother, Mike and his wife plus their sister, Betty and her husband, Norm. Cousin Bruce Douglas, with his lady, Christine also joined the throng. 

Some additional Douglas Clan members so we were well represented. 

Julie, Mike and I are listening to a weaver explain how to properly weave a tartan plaid and the differences between Modern, Ancient and Muted. Modern is the oldest style while Ancient is a lighter shade of the original colors. Muted is the removal of some colors.

The hammer toss is similar to the Olympic hammer toss. There was also the sheaf toss. A bag is filled with hay, each competitor uses a pitchfork to throw the bag over a crossbar, up to 50 feet in the air. 

The world famous caber toss was not to be seen (I think we just missed it) but this little guy is starting early to get his technique down for future games. 

The final competition was the Farmers Walk. Each man was to carry two stones, each weighing 250 pounds, as far as he could. Some could barely lift both stones. The winner carried the stones over 91 feet. Very impressive. 

Warmer weather and lots of sunshine kept some of us in the shade while we watched the competitors. 

After the presentation of the awards for the athletic and band competitors, the Drum Major retired from competition. He leaves the symbols of his "office" behind on the field; hat, baton and gloves.

Betty relaxes on a sofa covered in a quilt made from Mike's favorite t-shirts.

370 Lakeside Park, St. Peters, Missouri - 1 October 2018

The geese are starting to arrive.

Tori has found her favorite window for people watching. This is one of the few windows available for the dogs to see outside. 

Our next short stay is at the Berry Bend Public Use Area Harry Truman Lake. Seems we will have the place to ourselves. 

Tue 10/01 Berry Bend Public Use Area Harry Truman Lake

2018 09 16 - 09 23 Lake of the Ozarks and 370 Lakeside Park and RV Campground

Lake of the Ozarks, Missouri - 18 September 2018

Bob's school friends, Tom and Joann Childress invited us to their condo for a few days. The dogs liked going out on the balcony which overlooked the bay.

They have a tri-toon. That's one we had never heard before. It's a modified pontoon with 3 "toons" which make the ride smoother than the standard two. We were all hoping that being on the water would be cooler than the mid-90s temps but anything less than 20-30 mph across the water was just as hot. 

Beautiful skies were awaiting us on the lake and very little water traffic since it is now off-season. Most of the shore is lined with private homes or condo complexes. Tom and Joann say it can be quite a challenge to captain a boat around when it's high season. 

Joann still keeps her composure while being blown about while the boat is moving. 

One of the homes along the shore has mannequins in a picture window who look like the "Rat Pack"...Frank Sinatra, Sammy Davis, Jr and Dean Martin. I guess the window was not big enough for the Joey and Peter. 

Just an example of the private homes along the shore. Not all of them are so extravagant, some are quite modest, but there were some that even had helicopter pads. 

Bob takes the wheel coming out of one of the many bays. Keeping the throttle low to avoid a wake until farther out in the main channel after stopping for gas.   

 Wednesday, 19 September 2018

We didn't have fishing licenses so just taking the boat out to see the different areas. This house has a pool in front of the house with a double dolphin statue and a dolphin fountain. Any one in the market for a vacation home? Sign says it's for sale. 

Our view at sunset from the balcony of Braxton's restaurant. Such a pretty view but so glad we chose to eat indoors. It was still in the 90s so the balcony was not even a consideration.  

Wednesday, 19 September 2018

Our gracious host, Tom, on his boat the "Bon" Voyage. This is a play on words because his nickname for Joann is to shorten her maiden name, Bonsignore to "Bon".

Joann took us out today. Notice that we did not take the dogs on the boat. We were afraid Tori would freak out with the motor vibrations/noise and try to jump overboard. Their little puppy, Willow, also doesn't like the boat so we just left them all in the air conditioning in their separate rooms.  

I finally decided to try my hand at driving through the main channel. Hey, there are no rear view mirrors on this thing! Top speed is only about 37 mph but there are other speed boats around that have to be watched so our boat goes across the wake instead of being hit in the side and rocking us till we are seasick. Nothing like that happened to any of us.  

Plenty of sunshine. Hope you put on your sunscreen, Tom.

Part of the lake is bordered by the State Park so there are areas where buildings are not allowed along the shore. This bay made a great place for the boys to jump in for a swim. 

Doesn't look like it but this is our sunset cruise. We had to adjust the camera for flash so we are visible but that makes the background way over exposed. We would like to thank our gracious host and hostess for a wonderful time and such good weather for boating. 

Sun has set...

Moon has risen.

Friday, 21 September 2018 - We had spent a relaxing day catching up on laundry and other things. After a dinner of Bob's wonderful homemade pizza we suddenly started hearing a high pitched continuous beeping. Since we are relatively new to our home, this was disturbing. Is it an outside warning siren for some bad weather rolling in, some strange bell or whistle from a neighbor's vehicle or our own? It wasn't really loud but didn't take us long to decide it was inside our home. And it had to mean something was wrong but we hadn't heard it before. It took several minutes to decide it was coming from the kitchen area. Not the microwave...not the fridge...not the stove or oven. What else is mechanical over there? Finally figured out the pizza equipment that Bob had washed and returned to the drawer under the stove was pressing the On-Off button on the digital scale. We laughed at that scare. That's a new one for us. 

Lakeside Park, St. Peters, Missouri - 22 September 2018

The microwave decided not to work today. This is our main cooking equipment because it is also a convection oven, exhaust fan and stove-top light. Also it does not cost us anything like using the propane oven. But the obvious problem is the lack of access to the fuse or the charcoal filter without completely removing it from the wall and disassembling the whole surrounding metal skin. Four hours later we had discovered the fuse was fine and the microwave suddenly was working again, like magic. The appliance store near us does not carry nor can they even order a replacement charcoal filter. Well, that worked out well. Loads of fun.

Lakeside Park, St. Peters, Missouri - Sunday, 23 September 2018

Geese on the lake in an early morning fog. Such a peaceful scene.