on the road to....

Catching up....

2009-08-05T09:29:00.000-07:00

Greetings everyone!

It's been a while since we've updated our blog---so let's get you up to date. Our last blog was right after we returned home from a California spring break so what have we been up to since then?:

Washington DC and Colonial Williamsburg Again this was a great trip. The Cherry Trees were in full blossom and there is something special about spending time in our Capital. We had a great group---a few trips to the hospital, but we are glad to say that everyone is doing great!

Georgia and the Carolina's This was the first time that we lead this trip. It was a fabulous trip. Down through Atlanta and other historic towns, a few plantations and some great scenery. The history of the south is almost too much to take in, but we did enjoy it. Our favorite was probobly the stop at the plantations, they were beautiful. And of course a couple of nights stay on Myrtle Beach---can't beat that!

Pella Tulip Time of course Dutch Donna always enjoys this special trip as we get to see some beautiful tulips and other wonderful Dutch history.

May Mystery We had a great time as we traveled to Pierre, SD. It was a trip filled with stops at a Monastary, the Terry Redlin Museum, Laura Ingalls "Little House on the Prairie" a Hutterite Colony, and of course a stop to see the worlds largest pheasant! Then while in Pierre we took a cruise on the Missouri river, a tour of the largest earthen dam in the US and spent time at the Cultural heritage Center and the State Capital. We learned about Tatanka--"Bison" and many other wonderful sights!

Black Hills In June we traveled to the Black Hills. We had a bit of rain but in between the showers we visited: Mt Rushmore, Crazy Horse, took a ride on the 1880 train, stopped at a Gold Mine and enjoyed an evening cowboy dinner and show. On the way home we traveled through the Badlands and spent a night along the Missouri river. It was a great trip.

Niagara Falls This 6 day trip is a real delight. A stop at the Gilmore Car museum on our way is a real gem. And Niagara Falls....you have to see it to really experience it! Our rooms were all "Falls View" and what a spectacular view it was. A dinner at the top of the Skylon Tower with it's magnificent view was a real treat. Then it was on to Frankenmuth for a little bit of Bavaria before we headed home across Lake Michigan on the Badger Ferry.

Chicago Chicago is "my kind of town". We had a great time as we viewed all of the sights of the "windy city". A tour on the river, time at the Science and Industry Museum, a trip to the top of the Sears Tower and a step out on the "ledge". A great play and great people to travel with made this quick trip a winner!

National Parks Mt Rushmore, The Tetons, Yellowstone, Glacier---need i say more.. It is a fabulous trip and this year was as wonderful as last year and the years before--could never get tired of seeing all of this beauty!

Lake Superior circle Tour this was a new trip this year and it was great! A trip around Lake Superior with many breathtaking views and lot's of history. Stops at many waterfalls and viewing areas of the wonderful lake. We learned about the voyagers and the early fur trade industry and spent time at the shipwreck museum. A quick week, but an exciting and memorable one.

Well this brings us to today. I (Perry) am in Dixon California getting ready to drive into San Francisco to meet the Northern California/ Oregon coast tour. They will be arriving about 2pm and then the excitement of this beautiful trip begins. We'll try and do a little better at keeping you posted on our travels-----happy trails!

soon time to return to Minnesota!

2009-03-21T07:11:00.000-07:00

Had a great time in the Annaheim area.....we spent some time at the Richard Nixon Library and Museum----great information on our former president! We toured L.A., Hollywood, Beverly Hills with a ride down Rodeo Drive. Stopped at the farmers market for lunch and a few other stops along the way. Sunday we attended worship at the Crystal Cathedral and then drove out to the Queen Mary for lunch. On the way back we drove along the Pacific Coast highway. Last Monday we picked up our Palm Springs group at LAX, on our way there we stopped at Huntingtonbeach and walked out on the pier. Waves were rolling in pretty good and watching the surfers was a lot of fun. Our week in Palm Springs has been great. Weather, Sunshine and 85-90 degrees everyday! We drove up the mountains to Idillwyld on Tuesday, a beautiful drive and then some time for browsing in the shops there. Then on Wednesday it was a tour of the area and a stop at the Living Desert. Thursday was time for a Covered Wagon ride through thedesert and a cowboy cookout. Friday we drove to the high desert and a stop at Joshua Tree National Park---beautiful! Last night it was time for the Palm Springs Follies--what a hoot! Today we ride up the Palm Springs tram for a view of the valley from near the top of Mt Jacinto. Then on to a date farm and finally a comedian tonight at a local casino. Tomorrow it will be time to say goodbye to everyone as I take the group to LAX for their flight home and then I hit the road for home--weather hopefully on my side I will get home Wednesday!

It's been a great trip and a wonderful way to end a cold winter in the North!

Seems it never rains in southern California....

2009-03-11T16:26:00.001-07:00

What a great time to be in Southern California....it's below zero and they just had a blizzard in Minnesota!!!! We've had some great days in San Diego. With our guide we toured the area, from Old Towne, to the waterfront, to LaJolla to many other great sites. We spent a day at the Zoo, a day at Balboa Park an evening at the Welk Theatre, a stop at the Hotel Del Coronado, and some free time to just enjoy the beauty of the area. Our hotel is right near the waterfront and we have views of the bay. The USS Ronald Reagan was in Port when we arrived but today we notice it has set sail. This morning a whale came into the bay and the locals were working to get it back out to the ocean. Tomorrow we head a bit north...we travel to Annaheim through Mission San Juan Capistrano and Laguna Beach.

On the road again......to California

2009-03-06T21:22:00.000-08:00

Perry is on the road to California while Donna gets ready to fly into Los Angeles with our group for a tour of Southern California. We'll start with 5 nights in San Diego followed by 5 nights in Anaheim and then 6 nights in Palm Springs. This should get us all ready for Spring when we return home about the 22nd!

I'll update you later---but for now---i must get back on the road!

Howdy Partner---It was a great Texas Trip!

2009-03-06T21:12:00.000-08:00

We spent 16 days with 40 great travelers visiting the Great State of Texas. Let me just share some highlights!
--tour of Dallas including a stop where President Kennedy was shot along with some interesting highlights of this great city.
--a stop at South Fork Ranch and remembering JR Ewing and all of the clan.
--a trip to the Texas Ranger history museum
--a stop at the LBJ Ranch
--The Nimitz Museum in Fredricksburg
--A 3 day stay in San Antonio with a tour of the Alamo and many other sites.
--lots of time to enjoy the Riverwalk.
--a trip to South Padre Island
--2 days in Corpus Christi
--a tour of the USS Lexington and a stop at the Texas Aquarium
--a tour of the Johnson Space Center
--time in Galveston with a close up look at all of the devastation caused by Hurricane Ike
--a stop at the Cowboy Museum in Oklahoma City on our way home and the end of a great trip!

We had great weather and a great time as we explored the great State of Texas!

Great Trip...

2009-03-06T21:11:00.000-08:00

Well we made it home---it was a great trip! But things move fast---we had one day at home and then it was on to Texas...so let's get you up to date on that trip---cause I'm already on my way to California!

Sunny Florida....

2009-02-10T17:12:00.000-08:00

What a beautiful day we had today! Almost 80 degrees, sunshine, very little wind and plenty of beach here at the Sirata Beach Resort in St. Pete's Beach. We are finishing up day 13 of our 17 day Grand Florida Trip.
We began out trip driving out of the snow and into the ice storm that engulfed much of Kentucky and the Ohio River valley. It was pretty, but it sure did damage to the trees and electric supplies of the area. Then on to Savannah for a 1 night stay before we traveled to St. Augustine and a tour of this historic town before a two night stay in Orlando. Many travled to Disney World for a day that was a bit wet---actually the only rainy day of the trip! Then off to the Kennedy Space Center--where we got to see the shuttle out on the launch pad. Fort Lauderdale was our next stop for a couple of nights. We took a cruise on the innercoastal waterway and saw the homes and yachts of the rich and famous. Our next stop was Key West where many went to Mallory square for their sunset party...a time to experience the sunset from the most southerly town in the United States. On our way back north we stopped in the everglades for an airboat rides among the alligators. The water level is low in the everglades but still a neat experience. On to Fort Myers for a stop at the Lee County Sports complex for a look at where our Minnesota Twins will be getting ready for the 2009 season and then on to the Edison/Ford Winter estates. The last couple of nights we've spent in St Pete's Beach with a trip yesterday to Tarpon Springs and an enjoyable time in this Greek, "Sponge Capital" of the world.
So tomorrw we head north---but it's been a great trip! We'll give you a final word on this trip and some pictures when we get home.

New Year and on the Road

2009-01-21T04:55:00.000-08:00

Wow! Can't believe it's been so long since we've added to the blog. I guess we've been busy. Well welcome to 2009! Yesterday our new President was innaugurated and today our country takes off on a new adventure------Donna and I are ready for new adventures as well.

We were in California for the Rose Parade over New Years--what a great time that was and then last week we had a mystery trip that we lead to southern Wisconsin!!! It was cold, it snowed but we had a great time in Racine and Kenosha---lot's to see!!! But it was warm and cozy because of the great people we travel with.

We are getting ready to travel to Sunny Florida in about a week! 17 days of warmth and sunshine!!! Can't wait!

I've updated our travel list and will try and do better at keeping this updated and ad some pictures, so keep watching! And Happy Trails!!

WOW----what a trip!

2008-10-07T19:03:00.000-07:00

We just finished up day 15 of our 16 day New England/New York City trip. It has been a great trip. Since I last shared we have.....
--enjoyed the beauty of fall colors in New England. Of course to get a good idea of what the colors are like I need to ask Donna and she says there was more color this year than any of the last two. We enjoyed a tram ride to the top of Loon Mountain on the Kangamangus highway in New Hampshire--it was wonderful! We got to see some New England covered bridges and enjoyed a ferry ride across Lake Champlain.
--tied on our bibs and enjoyed Maine Lobster. For many on our trip this was the first time of eating a whole lobster--which is an experience, a fun one at that! The lobster was great and the fun we had around the tables was a real joy.
--walked a bit of the Freedom Trail in Boston, recalling the day of Paul Revere's ride. Took to the narrow streets of Boston and then traveled on to Plymouth to board the Mayflower 2 for a chance to experience the way the Pilgrims came to America. A picture of Plymouth rock and a drive up the oldest street in North America before we headed for Newport.
--saw more mansions in a couple miles of driving then many of us knew existed! Newport is filled with many mansions from the late 1800's and early 1900's. The Queen Mary 2 was anchored in the harbor and a world class Yacht race was just finishing up as we toured the area.
--toured the "Big Apple" like only R&J Tours can do! It was a tremendous couple of days of seeing people, cabs, people, Lady Liberty, people, cabs, Ellis Island, people, cabs, "Ground Zero", Wall Street, Broadway, 5th Avenue, A walk in Central Park, and more than I can remember. It was a great trip to a great city....but it's nice to be headed home!
So we are now a days ride from home with many great memories of a wonderful trip!

Niagara Falls

2008-09-26T16:49:00.000-07:00

Spent the day touring the Niagara Falls area. Colors starting to change some. The fall flowers in this area are beautiful. We traveled along the Niagara river this morning to Niagara on the Lake for a time of shopping and lunch. Then back to Niagara for a ride on the Maid of the Mist to the base of the Falls. Everyone enjoyed the beauty and power of the falls as they come crashing down near the boat! Later we had dinner at the Skylon Tower with a wonderful meal and awesome views of the Falls and the area around Niagara.
Tomorrow we head for the Lake Placid area!

On the road to New England/New York City.....

2008-09-24T19:06:00.000-07:00

Hi again!
Off on another great adventure----heading east. Tonight we are in the Detroit area after two days of travel. Had a stop in Chicago today, many of our travelers haven't been to Chicago or it's been a long time so they enjoyed the short drive through and stop at Navy Pier for coffee this morning. Then a drive across Michigan brings us to our destination tonight.
We have 39 great travelers with us! We are so blessed to travel with great people! This will be a fun 16 days!
Tomorrow it's a stop at the "Henry Ford" and then on to Niagara Falls! We'll try and get some pictures online tomorrow or soon!

Home from Agawa.....

2008-09-21T14:23:00.000-07:00

We returned home last night after a great 6 days. Days 4-6 we:

Traveled the Agawa Canyon train. A beautiful drive north out of Sault St. Marie, Ontario into Agawa Canyon. There we were able to enjoy some of the beautiful sights on a truly georgeous day!
Day 5 we traveled south to Ludington. On our way we enjoyed some beautiful scenery along the Lake Michigan coast. Stopped in Charlevoix for a short shopping stop---very short, the men thanked us and the women wanted more!!! We had lunch in Traverse City and then stopped at a local winery for a tour and tasting. Then it was on to Ludington for our evening meal and rest before we headed home.
Day 6, we took the Ferry from Ludington, MI to Manitowac, WI and then motored home across Wisconsin.

As is the case with all of our trips, it was hard to say goodbye to our new friends! We had a great time with a great bunch of people. We hope to travel with them all again soon!!

Now it's a quick nights sleep and then on to our New England/New York City tour! We'll keep you updated!

Agawa Canyon......

2008-09-17T18:42:00.000-07:00

We are in Sault St. Marie, MI tonight, just finishing up day 3 of our 6 day trip. It's been a wonderful trip and lot's of great new sights for Donna and I as well as many of our travelers.
Day one we traveled to Escanaba, MI. A long drive but a great day for traveling. Day two it was on to Mackinaw City for a ferry ride to Mackinac Island. A Carriage ride and lunch at the Grand Hotel were the highlights of the day. Today, day 3, we traveled to Tahquamenon State Park. Some beautiful waterfalls, the 2nd largest East of the Mississippi....(can you name the largest? We'll be seeing it next week!!!). Tonight we had a dinner cruise through the Soo Locks here in Sault St. Marie. It was a beautiful evening and our group enjoyed the dinner and wonderful ride through the locks.
Tomorrow, it's over to the Canadian side for a trip on the Agawa Canyon train. Looking forward to that as well.
Take a few moments to stop and look around you where ever you are.....it is a beautiful country we live in---we are blessed, please remember that, no matter what the economic indicators tell you!
Have a great day!

Great time in Canyonlands.........

2008-09-08T20:01:00.000-07:00

Day 6 today of a great trip! Weather has been beautiful, the people we are traveling with are marvelous and the scenery just doesn't get any better!
We spent time at the Grand Canyon---always a "jaw dropping" experience! Many of our travelers were here for the first time and it's always great to see their expressions as they gaze out across this marvelous "wonder" of the world!

Then it was on to Monument Valley for a ride out among all the marvelous monuments. These monuments on the Navajo reservation are also awe inspiring. Again it was a beautiful day and our group enjoyed the ride the cookout and the beauty of this great day!

Next on to Lake Powell for an evening dinner cruise. The lake was about 50 feet higher than last year so we could take a different route with the boat. It was a beautiful evening as we watched the sun set over Lake Powell and enjoyed the company of our travelers.

In the morning we toured the Glen Canyon Dam. It is awesome and we walked across the dam and then down into the bowels of the dam for a look at the Generators that produce electricity for much of the 3 state area. In the afternoon it was a glorious float trip on the Colorado river through Glen Canyon. A 15 mile float trip with walls of the canyon towering up to 1300 feet on either side----it is one of my favorite adventures on any tour that we do and this year did not disappoint me!
About 15 of us rose early the next day to take a trip just south of Page for a 3/4 mile hike out to see the Horseshoe bend in the Glen Canyon. We floated around it the afternoon before and now we watched the sunrise over this area. As we stood on the 1000' cliffs above the river we knew that on this Sunday morning we were in the most beautiful of God's Cathedrals. Later our entire group headed for Bryce Canyon. We drove along the Vermillion Cliffs and over the Kaibob Plateau and arrived at Bryce Canyon for the night.
Today we took our time traveling through Bryce Canyon National Park and enjoying all of the sights. Each stop is a bit different and the views are awesome. The cameras never stopped clicking by our group as we enjoyed this special day.
Then we took off on an adventure that was a first for us. To hike into Bryce Canyon is supposed to be a real "wow" experience and we wanted to see for ourselves. So we invited who ever wanted to hike with us to join Donna and I for this adventure. We told them all that this would be and 14 of our travelers joined us. We went into the canyon at Sunset Point and went down a trail filled with switchbacks through the towering hoodoos. We descended over 500' from the rim to the bottom of the canyon. It was beautiful! Every turn a different sight. As we walked across the bottom of the canyon we looked up at the hoodoos and they took on a different light from what one can see on the canyon rim. Then it was back up to the top---yup---we had to climb the 500' to the canyon rim. The hike took us about 1 1/2 hours but it was well worth it! Now, i'm not sure what tomorrow will bring, but a hot shower tonight will sure feel good!
Tomorrow it's on to Zion and into Las Vegas as we end our tour. It's been wonderful----I can't wait to come back!

Catch up time........

2008-09-02T19:52:00.000-07:00

Can't believe it's been so long since we've put a post on here. We've been busy that is for sure and I guess that has kept us from updating.........so let's get caught up:

August Mystery Tour
Our tour left Minnesota and headed for the Upper Penninsula of Michigan. Our destination was Houghton, MI where we settled infor 3 nights. We traveled to Copper Harbor on day 2 and spent time viewing the beauty of this area. The area is important for a number of reasons the main being copper and tourism. We visited a copper mine where some of our travelers walked down 100 steps into a mine and then 1/4 of a mile into the mine to see how it was done in the mining days. Then it was on to Copper Harbor and a trip across the harbor in a boat to view the light house. It was a beautiful day, but a bit windy so we got a little wet on the way back to the dock, but a great time was had. Then it was up to Brockway Mountain for a wonderful view of the mountains, trees and of course Lake Superior. It was a great stop. Day 3 was a trip to Calumet a town that boomed in the copper mining days and is now working on bringing back some of the old through restoration. We toured the Calumet theatre, an old church which is now a history center, spent some time shopping and eating before we headed to another mine for a tour. It was a 1/4 mile ride down a steep hill on a cog train before we drove 1/2 mile into the mine on what would have been the 7th level. The mine was 9000 feet deep when used last and is now filled with water up to the 7th level. It was a very interesting tour of what it would have been like to work deep within the earth. After a great meal we took a cruise on the harbor to end our evening. It was a great tour with a great bunch of R&J travelers.

Perry drives the Chicago Tour
Another great tour to Chicago starting with a train ride from St. Paul. I headed for Chicago and picked Linda(tour director) and the group up at union station. We ate Chicago style pizza that first night and settled into our hotel. Day 2 was filled with touring of Chicago and spending time at the Science Museum. Day 3 an architectural tour on the river followed by time at the aquarium or the Field museum and then an evening performance at the Drury Theatre. Again...another great trip.

For me, this trip was even more special because I got to take my grandson Dylan along. Dylan is 8 years old and an amazing guy. Of course i'm not biased in anyway! We got to travel to the top of the Hancock building for a great view...only to top that by going to the top of the Sears tower for an even better view. It was great to listen to him as we looked out from 100 stories in the air over chicago--it was even better to watch him snap picture after picture of our trip(thank God for digital). We also got to go to the Science Museum and the Field Museum. We saw space capsules, dinosaurs, a German Submarine and mummy's. We also got to watch a movie at the I-max about dinosaurs---could it get any better for an 8 year old? It was a fun time, I'm glad he could go along.

Canyonlands tour begins!
Now we are in Phoenix. We picked our travelers up today at the airport and spent sometime in Phoenix in 107 degree weather---but remember, it's "a dry heat". OK, so 107 is 107, it's still hot! Tonight we get a great nights rest before we head to the Grand Canyon tomorrow. I'll write somemore in a couple of days when I get a connection again.

Northern California/Oregon Coast

2008-08-12T20:49:00.000-07:00

Donna and I are sitting in our hotel room on the last night of our trip just remembering all of the great times we have had. It's been a great trip!

Wonderful People!

Beautiful scenery!

Awesome weather!

It couldn't have been a better experience. We began in San Francisco on a great day as our group arrived by air and were transferred to the Wharf. They had the evening free to enjoy a meal, stroll along the wharf, ride the cable cars or just relax. It was a memorable evening.

The second day we enjoyed a tour of San Francisco. It was foggy so we had to do things a bit different than on other tours but we saw a lot of the town. By the time we got to the Golden Gate Bridge the fog was lifting and we were able to see most of it. Next was our bay cruise and it was beautiful and informational. After lunch on the wharf we headed into the Sonoma wine country for a stop at the Viansa winery for a tasting. What a beautiful stop and some good wine(so I was told). We checked into our hotel and then off to dinner at the Sassafras Restaurant.

The next daywe headed through the Redwoods.....AWESOME! Those trees are huge and you have to experience them to really appreciate how big they are. Plenty of pictures and climbing on trees and in trees and through trees--it was great. Our day ended with a meal at the Samoa Cookhouse---last of the lumbercamp cook houses.

Day 4 we headed for Gold Beach and our Jet Boat ride up the Rogue River. 32 miles up the river through some of the most beautiful canyons you can imagine. Water that at times is only 1 foot deep and ospry's and eagles flying overhead. It was a great ride--a little wet at times, but great all the same! Our evening was memorable, but after we all got tucked in we slept well!

We got up early to enjoy the sound of waves crashing on the beach as we prepared ourselves for our Sand Dune Buggy experience. The Dunes are awesome and our drivers gave us a great ride. We stopped long enough to get our shoes filled with sand and plenty of pictures taken. Then it was on to the Sea Lion Caves and an elevator ride 12 stories down to the ocean to see where these noisy creatures raise their young and spend much of their time. While there we were treated to a whale and it's young one swimming just off the shore. As we entered Newport we stopped for a visit at the Aquarium and some great sea critters. Our evening was highlighted by being able to sit on the decks of our hotel room and watch the sunset over the ocean. It was a beautiful site. We left our door open at night to let the crashing of the waves put us to sleep and greet us in the morning.

Day 6 was a day of beauty and ice cream! We enjoyed the beauty of the Oregon Coast and the International Rose Test Garden in Portland and we enjoyed the ice cream at the Tillamok Cheese Factory. A stop was also made in Cannon Beach for lunch and some shopping.

Today it started a bit cloudy, but as we drove towards Mt Hood the clouds moved off and we were treated to some beautiful views of this magnificent mountain. As we arrived at the Timberline Lodge many of our group enjoyed a ride on the ski lift up another mile for an even more spectacular view. We enjoyed a great meal and also a tour of the lodge before we headed for the Columbia River Gorge and a stop at the Bonneville Dam and Fish Hatchery---where Herman the Sturgeon was waiting to show off for us! The final stop of our trip was at Multnoman Falls and the beauty of this scene was a fitting conclusion to a great trip.

What a great trip---lot's of great memories with lot's of great people!

What a trip!

2008-08-03T18:40:00.000-07:00

Well we made it home from our America's Majestic National Parks trip. It was a great trip. The beauty and the majesty of the Teton's, the wow factor of all the geothermal things at Yellowstone, the unbelievable "going to the sun" highway at Glacier. It was a great time. We saw wonderful sights, lot's of wildlife and spent 11 days with great people! Only home for a couple of days then off to the West Coast for the Northern California/Oregon Coast trip!

Tetons and Old Faithful

2008-07-25T19:45:00.000-07:00

What a great couple of days! The people we are traveling with are great! The weather is wonderful and we have seen some awesome sights!
We traveled to Teton National Park for a two night stay at Jackson Lake Lodge. The view from the dining room or the viewing area are magnificent. I've included a picture that was taken on the second morning----it is a special view! We enjoyed watching elk and moose from this vantage point. Our group also enjoyed a float trip down the Snake River. Eagles, Pronghorn sheep and spectacular views of the Tetons! Too bad we had to leave! But wait.....
Our next stop was just as spectacular! We arrived at Old Faithful in time to find a seat and watch this spectacular site. Then we had time for a stroll around to look at more geysers and thermol pools. A drive through the southwest part of Yellowstone allowed us many opportunities to see some of the beautiful colors that are a part of these natural "hot tubs"!

Tomorrow we have a step on guide who will be with us through out the day as we travel the northern part of the park.

America's Majestic National Parks

2008-07-23T05:55:00.000-07:00

We left Monday morning on the National Parks trip. Was a beautiful morning as we headed west across Minnesota and South Dakota with a first nights stay in Rapid City. Alot of laughs along the way as we traveled and then a first night stay at the Historic Alex Johnson Hotel in Rapid City. A great evening meal and we were all ready for some shut eye with anticipation of the next days!

Tuesday we left early to get to Mt Rushmore for a visit. For some it was a first time experience and for others it was a return trip to this National Memorial. It is an awesome sight and the beauty of the morning contributed to that...it's one of those places that when you visit it makes you proud to be an American!

Then we headed north and west for our evening destination of Cody, Wy. We drove across the Big Horn Scenic Byway. It offers some spectacular views! We were a bit disappointed when we arrived at Shell Falls only to find the area was closed for reconstruction, but we'll see more falls today and tomorrow! This morning we stop at the Buffalo Bill Cody Museum before we drive through Yellowstone on our way to Jackson Lake Lodge for a two night stay. Weather looks great so we are ready to go!

Northern Exposure Mystery............

2008-07-12T07:19:00.000-07:00

We returned last night from a great 4 day mystery trip to Northern Minnesota. What a beautiful trip with a group of 40 wonderful travelers.

We left on Tuesday morning bright and early and headed north through St. Cloud with our first destination being the Charles Lindbergh Historic Site near Little Falls. With a wealth of information gained about our own "Lucky Lindy" we continued our trip north to Camp Ripley for a stop at the Minnesota Military Museum there. Many tanks, helicopters, jeeps from WWI, WWII and newer. We had a couple of our men who drove tanks just like the ones on display so it made it even more interesting. The museum has a great collection of history from all around Minnesota and how Minnesotan's have been vital soldiers in wars from the Sioux Uprising through the present operations in Iraq. It's always interesting to hear the stories of how our travelers are connected to the things we see...we had two women traveling with us whose brother was a prisoner of war in WWII. What a story!

Then it was on to Cragun's Resort on Gull Lake near Brainerd for our first evening. We had a wonderful dinner together and then the opportunity was given for our travelers to have a pontoon ride around Steamboat Bay! Many took advantage of the opportunity and Captain Perry took them on a beautiful ride on a wonderful evening! Meanwhile Tour Director Donna was lighting the bonfire and getting all the fixins ready for the smores! UMMMM they were enjoyed by all! The evening was wonderful and many stories were told around the campfire!

In the morning we headed northwest for our next stop at Lake Itasca and a luncheon cruise. We cruised for two hours enjoying the sites that only can be seen from the advantage point of a boat. Then a short drive by coach took us to the headwaters of the Mississippi and many took the opportunity to walk across the Mississippi! Later a stop in Bemidji for a photo opportunity with Babe and Paul Bunyon before we headed for Grand Rapids and our evening meal of duck, walleye and pork at Rutgers Lodge. Then it was time to check into our hotel for the night and we were tired!

Our third day began with a stop at the Hill Annex Mine in Calumet. Our guide, a retired miner who had worked in this mine boarded our coach and traveled with us around and down into the mine sharing stories of how the operation worked. It was a fascinating hour and a half of stories and history as well as some pretty awesome sights! Following our mine tour it was on to Hibbing for lunch at Zimmy's Restaurant. Zimmy's is noted for it's Bob Dylan (born in Hibbing) memorabilia as well as the very neat building it is located in...an old Trolley car garage! A wonderful meal and we were ready for our busy afternoon. First a stop at the Greyhound Bus Museum. That's right the busing industry got it's start in Hibbing! Again we were surprised when we had a direct connection here, one of the ladies who was traveling with us informed us that her husband had been a Greyhound Bus driver for almost 30 years! Many enjoyed climbing aboard an old bus, much like the ones they used to travel on...and then enjoyed getting back on their R&J Coach and enjoying the luxury it offered them today! Our last stop in Hibbing was at the observation spot to watch the mining operation at the Hull/Rust Mining operation. This mine is known as the "Grand Canyon" of the north and is the largest of the open pit mines....it was awesome! But wait....we weren't finished! We headed back to Grand Rapids and made a stop at the Forest History Center where we had the opportunity to see what life would have been like in a 1900 logging camp. 70 men in a bunkhouse...a cook who ruled the kitchen and horses that were their lifeline. It was a great stop. Then back to our hotel for a "Lumberjack Dinner" with "linen lifters", Pork, potatoes and rutabagas and all the black jack and swamp water you wanted to drink, oh and don't forget the apple pie! Then off to the Mississippi Showboat show on the banks of the Mississippi for some evening entertainment!

Our final morning we began by all clicking our heals together 3 times and repeating, "there's no place like home" before we stopped at the Judy Garland Museum and early childhood home. A fascinating museum and many stories to hear and share. Of course we were on the lookout for the Ruby Slippers as we made our way to Cloquet for lunch and our final stop at Jay Cooke State Park for a fascinating view of the beautiful St. Louis River.

What a state we live in and what great people to travel with! It was a memorable 4 days!

Where have we been??????

2008-07-05T07:08:00.001-07:00

Greetings all.....sorry it's been a while. Computer was down for a while and busyness kept us off the blog some...but we are back on the road again so let's update you.

Since our last entry:

We finished the Chicago trip---what a great trip it was. Lot's of neat sites with lots of great people. Saw a great play, "Les Mis.." and had some great weather. So it was a fun trip.

In May we took a trip to the Tulip Festival in Pella, Iowa. Was great the tulips were in bloom and the town was beautiful. We had a little rain, but it didn't stop the parade or other activities. Our group enjoyed and it being our first trip to Pella, we too enjoyed the sites!

Then it was on to Branson for a trip. Good time was had by all of course! Lot's of great music and lot's of fun.

Donna took a trip to the Black Hills and Brett drove that trip. Was a great trip for her and all of the travelers. Gold Mine, Mt Rushmore, the beauty of the Black Hills and a ride on the 1880 train!

Perry drove a group on a trip in California at the same time. It was the same trip that we do called the Northern California/Oregon Coast trip. A beautiful trip and the folks enjoyed it much. My trip was cut short when I received news that my older brother, Bob was diagnosed with a brain tumor, so I had to fly home and Ralph flew out to bring the coach back home. ----My brother is now undergoing Chemo treatments--please keep him in your prayers.

We then went on a trip to Mackinaw Island for the Lilac Festival. What a beautiful trip it was. The Island was beautiful, the weather great and of course it's such a neat place to be with the horse and bike traffic and no automobiles. It was a great trip.

Finally, we just got back from Niagara Falls. Again, great sites, wonderful people and tremendous weather. We stopped first at the Gilmore Car Museum at Hickory Corners, MI. What a neat place this is and this year we were there when they had an antique tractor show, so it was double the fun. Then we stopped in Battle Creek for a meal at Clara's on the River, a quaint restaurant in an old train depot. Our step on guide then took us on a tour of the town that made cereal a breakfast staple. The next day it was off to Niagara and for many a first glimpse of the falls, but not just a glimpse, they went right to the bottom of the falls on the Maid of the Mist...what a great way to see Niagara! Then our dinner was in the skylon tower , so from 500 feet in the air we were able to enjoy beautiful sites of the falls as well as the area. Our rooms for the night were overlooking the American Falls and a fireworks display that we were able to watch from our rooms made it a night to remember! Our final stop of the trip was in Frankenmuth, MI for dinner and some great entertainment and dancing. Then on to Ludington and a trip across Lake Michigan on the Badger car ferry. Again a wonderful trip to one of those great destinations in North America.

It's the 4th of July weekend and soon we will be taking off on our July Mystery trip....we'll keep you informed!

Chicago Bound......

2008-04-23T05:40:00.000-07:00

Well, we leave tomorrow morning for Chicago. It seems like it's been a long time to be home for us, but the rest was very welcome. But....we are eager to get on the road again...we do enjoy traveling with the wonderful people that take our trips!

Our Chicago trip will include a ride on Amtrak tomorrow for our passengers and Donna. I'll take the motorcoach to Chicago and meet them at the train station. We'll enjoy a great meal tomorrow evening and then Friday we spend the day in Chicago, Shedd Aquarium, an Architectural cruise on the river, some shopping time on the magnificent mile, a dinner at the Walnut room in Macy's and a lot of fun in between. Saturday is spent at the Botanical Gardens, the Cuneo Mansion, Historic Long Grove and a dinner theatre.

It will be a great trip.

Also, I won't be blogging while on this trip. My laptop is at the Dr. for some repairs. Hopefully it gets back soon!

end of a great trip......

2008-04-07T08:23:00.000-07:00

We arrived home last night after a wonderful 12 day trip. Since our last blog we...
Took a tour of Mt Vernon, George Washington's home. It is set on a hill overlooking the Potomac River and it is a very interesting and beautiful setting. Then it was on to Richmond for a lunch stop at the Historic Jefferson Hotel. Wow! This hotel built in the late 1800's is a beautiful hotel, our lunch was excellent and we felt like royalty eating there. After lunch we drove on to Jamestown for a visit to the Jamestown Settlement. A very interesting stop at this town where America began! Our night was spent in Williamsburg.
We arrived at Colonial Williamsburg in the morning for our time there. Everyone had an opportunity to tour this historic town at their own pace and it was enjoyed by all. It tried to rain on our parade, but we wouldn't let it dampen our enjoyment of this historic stop!
The next morning we were in Charlottesville, VA for a stop at Monticello, the home of Thomas Jefferson. It was a great tour of this very unique house. Then it was on to the historic Mitchie's Tavern for a fried chicken lunch...where we all ate too much!!
The next couple of days were spent traveling home and enjoying memories of all the historic and beautiful sites we had seen.
We dropped our guests off last night and said our goodbyes...but we hope not for long! We met new friends and hope to see them all on another trip soon.

Great days in DC

2008-04-02T17:12:00.000-07:00

We left the DC area this morning after a couple of great days. Let's recap:

We spent the first day with our guide touring the city. We saw many of the memorials and monuments. It's especially moving to stop at the memorials when you have veterans along on your tour. We had a number of veterans from the Korean War and they had many stories to share as well as a tear as we walked past this moving memorial. When we arrived at the Lincoln Memorial we remembered our time at Gettysburg and also standing on the steps of the memorial we could see the spot where Martin Luther King Jr. shared his "I have a dream" speech. Then it was on to the Vietnam memorial where we had another Veteran with. His story was again moving as he told of returning home and then helping return home the remains of a young man to his family. He has been friends with that family ever since and while visiting the memorial found the name of this very special young man. We also have a woman with us who served as a nurse during WWII and a couple of other Veterans on this trip....it was a great day.
We stopped by the White House, President Bush was in Europe but we took pictures anyway. There was a protest going on against China at the time..so we were able to experience some of that. There were many other sites, it was a great day. By the time we headed back to our hotel in Alexandria we were tired....but we had enjoyed a great day touring.
Oh, I almost forgot, the Cherry Blossoms were in full bloom and beautiful. We especially enjoyed them near the FDR Memorial and the Jefferson Memorial and around the Tidal Basin.
We woke the next day and traveled to Arlington National Cemetary. We watched the changing of the guard at the Tomb of the Unkown. It's always moving to watch the precision of this, but also to experience the solemness of this event. Then it was on to the Smithsonian for a quick stop before our afternoon Capital tour. The day ended with a dinner cruise on the Potomac River and it was a great ending to a couple of wonderful days in DC.
Now it's on to Jamestown and Colonial Williamsburg....but more about that later.

a great day in DC

2008-03-31T19:10:00.000-07:00

We spent the day in DC touring. It was a great day. The Cherry Blossoms were in full bloom and looked great. It was a cloudy, drizzly day but the blossoms were still beautiful. There is lot's to write about but for now we are just going to say it was an impressive day. We'll give more details tomorrow after our last day in DC.

The pictures today are of part of our group at the White House and the other is a taste of the Cherry Blossoms.

lessons in Gettysburg and Philadelphia....

2008-03-30T18:04:00.000-07:00

Gettysburg is one of our favorite stops. The history that is a part of this town is heart wrenching but also inspiring.

We picked up our guide at the visitor center and headed for the battlefield. It was a beautiful afternoon, a bit cool, but the sun was shining. We heard stories of Generals and young boys who fought on those 3 days that changed the direction of the war and ultimately the history of our country. We heard stories of southern troops and northern troops. Troops that marched 26 miles in one day and then lead a charge up "little round top" to their death. We heard about decisions that were made and weren't made...some for the better and some were tactical errors.

But what touches me everytime I hear it is the story of the Brigade from Minnesota. 260+ men who in a moment that could of changed the battle were called upon to basically sacrifice themselves and give the Union a few minutes to get more men in position. 260+ men ran to meet the oncoming 1500 confederate soldiers. They put up a fight that was successful in the outcome, but for those Minnesotans...it was fatal. 82% of them died on the battlefield in about 15 minutes. Everytime I stand by the memorial erected in their honor I look over the field and I see them meeting the enemy and sacrificing it all for the greater cause. It's humbling and it reminds me of the sacrifice of many so that I can do things like drive a motorcoach around this wonderful country of ours and recall this and other great stories of heroes, valor, sacrifice and honor.

Then today we drive into Philadelphia....the birthplace of our country. July 4, 1776 the Declaration of Independence was signed in Independence Hall and our country with all of it's freedoms became a reality. To see the Liberty Bell, Independence Hall and to walk where our forefathers walked is pretty awesome. It's humbling and it makes one proud to be an American.

Tonight we are in Alexandria, VA. As we arrived here we could just get a glimpse of DC. The Washington Monument rising high with the Jefferson Memorial in the foreground. Tomorrow we tour our nations Capital. Many of our travelers haven't been here before, what a priviledge it will be to show them this beautiful city the Capital of our Great Country.

into Gettysburg...........

2008-03-28T17:46:00.000-07:00

we motored through the Alleghenies and into Gettysburg today.

For me there is something special about driving into town across the battlefield. Driving down that same road that in 1864 soldiers came to fight a battle and over those 4 days over 50,000 were killed or injured.

We arrived at our lodging for the next two days, "The Gettysburg Hotel". We are situated right in the heart of town, so it's easy to walk around and look at historic buildings and do some shopping.

Tonight we had dinner at the historic Dobbin House. This house, built by Pastor Dobbins in 1776 was used as a home, a school and was also used as a stop on the underground railroad. It was a great meal with many lots of laughs and plenty of conversation going on around the tables.

Tomorrow we tour the battlefield and many are headed out to the Eisenhower farm in the morning.

R&J Goes to Washington...........

2008-03-26T16:21:00.000-07:00

a beautiful morning for 40 wonderful travelers to board the motorcoach and begin their 12 day tour to Gettysburg, Philadelphia, Washington DC, Williamsburg and other wonderful places!
Clear roads and clear skies were the order of the day as we traveled through Wisconsin to our first stop of the trip in Rockford, IL. Not a whole lot to report but thought I'd let you know we are off, so stay tuned more exciting info on this trip coming tomorrow and days to follow!

always sad to say goodbye...

2008-03-20T06:25:00.001-07:00

Well we made it home and we've had a day to rest up...well kind of! So let's recap the last couple of days of our trip and have some final thoughts.

Day 18 was Cheyenne to Lincoln and it began a bit slick as snow and rain had fallen over night. It wasn't as foggy as the night before so we just took our time and all went well. We took some back roads for a while and made a stop to see a building used for a Pony Express stop in Nebraska. Then it was time to see the skies and fields filled with Sandhill Cranes as they migrate north. We spent the night in Lincoln and then it was our final day as we headed for home. It was a beautiful day, well after we got through the fog around Omaha, as we headed through Iowa. We made a lunch stop at The Machine Shed and as we sat around the table had many laughs together. It was a great way to end our adventure. We arrived in Bloomington at about 4:10pm and said our farewells to our travelers who by now had become our family.......it's always a tough time to say goodbye to these folks that we get to appreciate and enjoy so well.

It was a great trip. Lot's of great scenery on the way to California and many exciting things to see as we were there. The weather was great, the travelers tremendous and once again we got to experience the beauty of God's creation in so many special ways.

Now, a couple of days of rest and then we head east!

more amazing days...

2008-03-16T19:34:00.000-07:00

What a couple of days!

Elko, NV to Salt Lake City yesterday and then on to Cheyenne, Wyoming today. Some interesting days let me write about them like this.

ROADS: Starting yesterday the roads were wet and icy in spots. It was snowing and raining and then snowing some more. The clouds were awesome as we watched it rain and snow across the plains and over the mountains. Made for a beautiful, yet at times mysterious day. Today much of the same. For the most part the roads were pretty clear, yet there was snow at times and a little bit of rain. The sun came out for a while this afternoon and then 20 miles from Cheyenne it got foggy, I mean really foggy. GPS comes in handy in the fog, let's you know what the road is going to do and also where you are....we made it to the hotel!

SCENERY: I could just say it was beautiful, awesome, wow! But, I've said that before about this trip haven't I. Yet, it is the truth. Even the Salt Flats and the high plains are beautiful in their own way. The mountain ranges take your breath away at times. We stopped this morning at Echo Reservoir. It was frozen over with snow on the ice and some people out ice fishing. We stopped to take some pictures and enjoy the mountains rising in the background. As we looked over the side of our perch on the hill we saw 8 mule deer below us, watching and I'm sure wishing we would leave them alone..it was a beautiful sight. As we crossed Wyoming we noticed all of the big snow fences they built and put along the road in very strategic spots. It was amazing the amount of snow those fences stopped!

HISTORY: Yesterday we stopped in Wendover, NV. Lot's of history here! The Bonneville Salt Flats where world land speed records were set! The airforce had a base there where thousands of soldiers were trained and where the crew that flew the Enola Gay began their training. We drove into Salt Lake City which is filled with history from the Mormon travel across our country to what they claimed to be Zion. Today we continued up across the mountains of Wyoming and traveled across on I80 which was the first Interstate but what is really exciting is that it was the path that early settlers traveled as they made their way to the West. It was easy for us to climb the mountains but can you imagine what it took to do this by wagon? It's pretty humbling just to think about. We stopped today to see "tree rock".....ok doesn't sound like much but when you read about it's history...it was pretty cool.

Well tonight we are in Cheyenne, two days to go on this amazing trip...can't wait for what tomorrow holds.

turning towards home........

2008-03-14T20:12:00.000-07:00

We left Monterey and drove into San Francisco for a few hours of sightseeing on Fisherman's Wharf. It was a nice day...of course it was cool, it's San Francisco. But the sun was shining and we all had time to eat and enjoy some of the sights, sounds and smells of the city. Then it was off towards the airport and time to say goodbye to our fly-away group. It was kind of funny to have a number leave us, for Donna and I this was only the second time we had this happen on one of our trips. It was like losing part of the family! (we found out later they made it home safely so if your reading this...know you are missed!)

Then the rest of us headed for South Lake Tahoe. It was a beautiful drive past Sacramento and on up highway 50 towards Tahoe. What a beautiful drive with lot's of snow along the way. We arrived at our hotel for the night and enjoyed a good night sleep.

We woke up this morning and there was a dusting of snow on the ground. But as we got ready to leave the sun came out and it was a beautiful drive. We stopped along the lake for a picture stop. We've attached one of them. What a beautiful sight. This lake at 6000' is pretty spectacular! Our camera crew got a bit adventurous and walked through some snow for a few good shots, but it was worth it! The drive the rest of the day was awesome. Driving down the mountain into Carson City we had some spectacular scenes and then driving across I80 we had clouds in front of us that looked pretty ominous. We weren't sure if it was going to snow or rain, but as we got close to them the clouds kind of parted and only gave us a little rain shower one time and a bit of sleet another. We arrived in Elko for the night and head towards Salt Lake City tomorrow.

fly away day......

2008-03-13T06:12:00.000-07:00

Today our fly away group heads for home, but before that we will make a stop in San Francisco along the wharf for some sightseeing and lunch.

Yesterday was another great day! We made a morning stop at the Monterey Bay Aquarium and enjoyed all of the fish, sharks, otters and all the rest that is a part of a great aquarium. The aquarium is located in buildings along Cannery Row that used to be a cannery. There was lot's of information about the canning days when sardines were abundant in the area and over 2,000,000 tons were canned a year! After our time at the aquarium folks had time to walk down cannery row and visit the local shops and enjoy lunch.

The afternoon was filled with sights of the Monterey Penninsula coast as we drove the beautiful 17 mile drive through Pebble Beach. The houses, the golf courses and the coast, what a lovely drive. The surf was up and the waves crashing along the coast were exciting to watch. We made a number of stops along the way for pictures and just to take in the sights. One of those sights was the lone cypress tree, it is a beautiful sight. We ended the day with a stop in Carmel by the Sea for a time of shopping and finding a little ice cream!

California land of contrasts........

2008-03-10T15:06:00.000-07:00

Another beautiful day!

We drove to the Firestone Winery today for a tour, tasting and a picnic. The weather couldn't of been any better. 75 degrees and sunny! Little wind....it was wonderful. As we were on our way home from the winery someone made a comment, "isn't today just the opposite of yesterday!" Yesterday we were traveling on 6 lanes of freeway with wall to wall cars and today we are on a two lane country road with few cars and hills and fields and quiet.

I'm glad others noticed as well. As we arrived at the winery we took a tour. Very informative about the vines, grapes and the process of making wine. We walked into the vineyard and from there to the barrel room and finally to the tasting room to sample some of the different Firestone wines. As the group was doing this I went outside to set up for our picnic.

We had a wonderful spot for our picnic. Out on their terrace with a few tables and a view that touched all my senses. It was awesome. I finished my preparations and the group wasn't there yet, so I sat and enjoyed.

As I looked across the valley to the hills and beyond to the mountains and some snow on top I just sat and enjoyed:

I enjoyed the sights: mountains, snow, hills of green, grape vines ready to pop out in buds to the new spring. There were hawks that flew through the valley and little lizards that climbed on the rocks near me.

I enjoyed the sounds: the best sound was just quiet. There was a gentle breeze but it didn't rustle the trees. There were birds singing in the morning. Once in a while a car would drive by but then disappear along with it's sound behind the next hill.

I enjoyed the smells: fresh air, it was wonderful. No smog, no scents that didn't belong there except freshness of a spring day.

I enjoyed feeling: the gentle breeze and the warmth of the sunshine, it was great.

As I sat and waited I couldn't help but reflect on the beauty of God's creation and the joy it is to travel around our country and see that beauty in so many places. As I sat there I knew that I was sitting in a holy place....yes, it was on a hill over looking a vineyard with a winery just behind me, but it was holy ground. It was created by our Creator for our enjoyment, and I was truly enjoying it as a gift from the one who created it for me to enjoy, to me there is no better worship.

Some time for resting and enjoying the rest of the day before we enjoy an evening meal together. Then tomorrow we continue north, the Hearst Castle and Monterey.

a weekend to remember.........

2008-03-09T17:46:00.000-07:00

Saturday morning began with a beautiful sunrise and our group headed for the Catalina Ferry landing in San Pedro for our trip to Catalina Island and the Island town of Avalon. On our way to the ferry we traveled through the Long Beach and Los Angeles Shipyards. What a sight to see the large cranes that are used to load the container ships. There were a few of these container ships in port and are they big!!!!

We all boarded our Ferry for Catalina and an hour later we were on the beautiful island. We took a tour of the island and then had time to shop and just enjoy the beautiful day. The island had fires last year and they came close to destroying this little bit of paradise.....but it's still there and a very beautiful spot. (The picture attached is from high over the town of Avalon looking at the harbor we arrived in.)

Today began a little bit foggy, but that lifted as we drove to Garden Grove for a worship service at the Crystal Cathedral. It's a beautiful house of worship and was a special time of worship with some very special music.

Tonight we are in Solvang. We arrived here after a nice drive up the coast and then into the foothills just off the coast, it was a beautiful drive and when we arrived the temperatures were in the high 70's(just had to throw that in there for those of you in the cold back home!!!!).

Half way point.........

2008-03-08T06:54:00.000-08:00

It's hard to believe that today marks half way in our trip. It's been a great trip and we've seen some wonderful places already...today will be no exception as we head out to Catalina Island and the town of Avalon. We head for the ferry in a little while but first let me tell you about yesterday.

We left Coronado Island at 9am and headed up I5 toward The Mission at San Juan Capistrano. We enjoyed some time exploring this old mission and looking for the swallows...they aren't due in for another week or so.

On our way to Laguna Beach we took a scenic stop high atop Dana Point to look out over the marina and ocean. It was a beautiful site.

In Laguna Beach we had time for lunch and a walk on the beach. The weather was great and the surf was a bit high....but wonderful to watch and listen to.

We arrived at the Queen Mary in Long Beach for a tour and dinner. Our guide was excellent and gave us a very informative tour of this Grand Old Vessel. From first class to 3rd class we covered it all....of course with this group we didn't leave the first class section for long! Our dinner was excellent and our accomodations for the evening superb.

So we may be at the half way point---but we are looking forward with great anticipation to what lies ahead!

A Beautiful Time in Coronado

2008-03-07T07:46:00.000-08:00

We all arrived in Coronado on Tuesday evening and had a great time....

Enjoying all the amenities of the hotel Glorietta Bay Inn.

Took a tour of the San Diego area with a step on guide making stops at Balboa Park, LaJolla to enjoy the magnificent ocean views and watch the seals along the beach. We stopped at Old Town San Diego for lunch and time for looking and shopping. Later we enjoyed a harbor cruise. Along the way we had beautiful views of the San Diego skyline along with opportunities to see many large ships in port including some military crafts. We traveled under the Coronado Bridge and had a beautiful day on the water.

The next day was free for our guests to enjoy many of the sights of the area. Some went to Balboa park for the day, others enjoyed a time of shopping and walking at Seaport Village on a beautiful day. Still others spent the day on Coronado Island taking a walk through town or across the street to the Hotel Del Coronado for a look at this grand hotel and a walk on the beautiful beach.

Last night we enjoyed a wonderful meal and the play Oklahoma at the Welk theatre.

Today it's off to Long Beach with stops at San Juan Capistrano Mission and Laguna Beach.

Good Morning Coronado!

2008-03-04T06:25:00.000-08:00

Got up this morning just in time to look outside and watch the sun rise over Glorietta Bay, thought we would share it with you.....what a great way to start the day!

no longer California dreaming.......

2008-03-03T21:00:00.000-08:00

We arrived! Made it to Coronado Island at about 5pm today. The Fly-away group arrived at the hotel about 2pm this afternoon. When we arrived some were out enjoying the sunshine and warmth---70 degrees here today. They said it was about 10 degrees when they left Minnesota this morning!

We had a beautiful drive from Williams today. Over mountains and through the desert. Many of the plants were in bloom along the way and here in Coronado many flowers are blooming as well.

Tomorrow a tour of San Diego.

Grand Canyon........

2008-03-02T20:05:00.000-08:00

Left Cortez this morning and the temperature was right at freezing. It was snowing a bit so we really didn't know what to expect. There was snow on the ground all the way to Kayenta and then from there to Cameron the snow was pretty much gone.

We made our first stop at Four Corners and everyone got a chance to stand in 4 states at once! It's a fun stop. It was cold and windy, but all enjoyed!

We stopped for lunch at the Cameron trading post. A nice place for lunch and they have a great gift shop--have to stop at a few of those!

As we got closer to the Grand Canyon, at the higher elevations, there was more snow on the ground again. This gave a different look to the Canyon then we had seen before.

There aren't words that can describe the Grand Canyon. Awesome, Spectacular, Wow, none do it justice.

To really know what it's like you have to see it. We stopped at many different overlooks as we traveled from the east entrance to Bright Angel Lodge. Each had a different view--each was spectacular. We've added some pictures so you can get a taste of what we experienced today..but if you really want to experience the Grand Canyon..well, we have a trip coming back this fall!

Tomorrow on to Coronado Island.

climbing higher......

2008-03-01T19:52:00.000-08:00

we left Denver this morning in beautiful sunlight and headed south on I25. We turned west on CO160 to head over Wolf Creek Pass. Elevation is a little over 10,000ft. We were glad it was sunny and warm because there was lots of snow. I mean lot's of snow. As I said yesterday I was told they had over 40 feet of snow this winter. We saw snow piled 12-15 feet high in places and as we looked up on mountains we could estimate that some snow was piled over 50 feet--actually I'd say closer to 100 but I don't want you to think I'm making this up.

It was one of the most beautiful drives we have ever been on. The snow on the mountains with the sun shining was awesome. It was fun driving and listening to the comments of everyone behind me. They all enjoyed it. We took a few stops to take some pictures and size up some of the drifts. I've included a couple of pictures, one is of the group at the summit of Wolf Creek Pass, the other is just a little further down as we drove next to a place where they had blown the snow off the road. The snow was higher than the motorcoach! It was awesome.

Tomorrow, it's on to the Grand Canyon--another great day awaits us!

65 and beautiful in Denver....

2008-02-29T16:34:00.000-08:00

Days one and two are over and it's been a great start to our Southern California adventure. We began yesterday morning by picking up our group in Bloomington(all 6 of them----the rest of the group is flying to San Diego) and then heading south through Iowa. After lunch in Clear Lake the snow and blowing arrived and until we got into Nebraska the roads were pretty slick. We watched one vehicle pulling a trailer jacknife and end up in the ditch in front of us, stopping just before it hit an on coming semi. It was scarey, but thank God noone was hurt. We traveled to York, Nebraska last night and enjoyed a meal together before we checked into our hotel.

This morning we left York and made our first stop in Kearney, NE. We visited the "Great Platte River Road Archway Monument". It is a unique monument/museum that spans over interstate #80. As you go through the museum it tells about the history of people heading west through Kearney which at one time was the final outpost before the western wilderness. It was a great stop!

As we left Kearney and headed west we began to see thousands of geese, and cranes beginning their trek north. The skies at times had dark spots in the distance as the geese would fly, it was fun to watch them. The Sandhill Cranes should be in full migration on our return trip.

We turned south west on I76 and soon had the Rockies in sight in the distance. It was a beautiful sight to see. Tomorrow we head over Wolf Creek Pass. I was told today they had over 40 feet of snow----yup feet-- there this winter. It should be a great day.

Oh....temperature here today is 65, tomorrow it is supposed to be 70 in Denver.

Ready to go!!!

2008-02-28T03:44:00.000-08:00

I went out to our bus garage last night to make sure everything was ready for our trip today. When you leave on a 20 day trip and are going to travel over 5000 miles you want to make sure everything is ready with the coach and all the items needed to keep our passengers comfortable. As I backed #900 out of the garage I realized that in less than 12 hours I would once again be boarding a very special cargo for this wonderful trip. Each trip that I drive I am aware at the responsibility that I have with this special cargo, I'm carrying someone's grandpa and grandma or mom and dad and it's my responsibility to make sure our motorcoach is ready to do that in the safest way possible. Not to mention the fact that I need to be ready as well. Then my phone rang and it was my daughter calling one last time before we take off and we chat for a bit while I make the final preparations, it's ready and so am I!!

This morning Donna and I will load up the coach for our 20 day adventure to Southern California. It will be a great trip seeing many great sites. The weather looks like it will be great, at least until we get over the mountains! But, we'll take it as it comes, that is part of the adventure of a motorcoach trip.

So stay tuned, we'll keep you updated on all the sites and fun of this adventure!

Another mystery revealed.........

2008-02-24T04:54:00.000-08:00

Wednesday morning the 20th, 47 wondering people boarded R&J Motorcoach #900 for a destination unknown to all of them. Of course there were many questions and many guesses...none of which were correct! We headed east out of St. Paul on I94 for our first stop at the Norske Nook in Osseo, WI for lunch. Great soup and a sandwich along with their famous pie. Meringue that sits up 6 inches or so was enjoyed by some...me, I like the rasberry white chocolate.....mmmmmmmmmmmm.....

Then on to our second stop, Circus World in Barabou. Here we learned about the Ringling Brothers and the circus. We saw old circus wagons and costumes. It was a great stop down memory lane and reminded many of days gone by when the circus would come to town. Then on the road to our destination for 3 nights, the Lake Delevan Resort on Lake Delavan. What a wonderful resort and our travelers enjoyed their accomodations for 3 nights. Great rooms and a wonderful pool and spa!

Trips the next two days included stops at: The Janesville Wagon factory, where little wagons are made for kids by hand. The GM auto factory where Yukons and Suburbans are made. What an exciting tour to see 1 vehicle a minute come off the line. Then a stop at the Lincoln-Tallman house. An 1830's mansion in Janesville where Abraham Lincoln spent a couple of nights in 1859. The bed he slept in was still there...it's pretty neat to think you walked through the same doors that Mr. Lincoln did. The next day we went to Millie's for Breakfast and a morning musical review of all the "Jukebox" hits of the last decades. It was a fun way to start the morning. After that we went to the Yerke's Observatory which when it was built boasted the largest telescope in the world. We were able to go into the room where the telescope was.....man it was big! Then it was on to Beloit to the Angel Museum. Over 7000 angels collected by an individual were on display, including some angels donated by Oprah. Our last stop of the day was the "Historic Auto Museum" which was a lot more than just auto's. It included movie memorobilia and JFK items as well as much, much more.

It was a busy couple of days....but as we revealed one mystery after another our destinations were enjoyed one after another.

We arrived home last night..the mystery no longer a mystery and our fellow travelers no longer strangers....it was a great trip! And our next destination..........well, for today, let's keep that a mystery also!

Home and cold...let's go back south......

2008-02-19T05:02:00.000-08:00

We arrived back to snowy Minnesota on Sunday evening. We had to drive through a snowstorm in Iowa and for a while we thought that turning back south would be a good idea....but in the end, there is "no place like home.".

It was a wonderful trip. Last entry left you with a sunset in Key West. Following that stop we headed back north with a stop in the Everglades for a boat ride through the glades. It was a lot of fun as we drove through the mangroves and saw alligators and other wildlife along the way. The boat would spin and glide and yes we'd get a little bit wet, but it was a beautiful day and an exciting experience.

A stop in Fort Myers gave us the opportunity to meet Mr Thomas Edison...it was his birthday and we had cake to celebrate as we toured his winter estate. All of the inventions from this man sure make life a lot easier. A stop for lunch at Joe's Crab Shack and then on to the Spring Training site of our Minnesota Twins. We took a group picture there and then headed for St Pete's Beach for a 3 night stay.

We checked into our hotel, the Sirata Beach Resort in time to watch the sunset over the Gulf, it was beautiful. What is it about sunsets and sunrises over the ocean or gulf that will give us that "wow" feeling everytime?

We took a day trip to Tarpon Springs. This little Greek village was once the Sponge Capital of the world. We had the opportunity to see first hand how sponges are collected by a deep sea diver. Then lunch at a Greek Restaurant and out onto the Gulf for a short trip to see the beauty of the area and hopefully some wildlife. We did have a dolphin that followed our boat for a while and gave us some good picture opportunities.

A free day at St Pete's Beach gave us the opportunity for some shopping or just sitting on the beach before we started our trip towards Minnesota. On Valentine's Day morning we dropped off our "fly-away" friends for their trip home and the rest of us headed north. We stopped to pick up some oranges.........oh they are good! Then on for a Valentines Day lunch together before we arrived in Montgomery, Alabama for the night.

The next day it was off to Memphis for a tour of Graceland. For many this was the first time to see the home of Elvis and it was a great stop. Then off to Beale Street the home of the Blues and the place where Elvis got his start. We found a local restaurant for dinner and some music before the end of another great day.

The next day we continued our trek north with a side stop added at the Arch in St Louis. Then north for a quick drive through Hannibal, MO before we checked into our hotel in Quincy, IL.

Our final day we took off in lot's of rain and before our first 100 miles were over it turned to sleet and snow. It snowed hard through Iowa and so it was slow going until we got almost to Minnesota but we made it home safely.....with many memories of another great trip.

It was a great trip with many memories.............and lot's of warmth, both the weather and the great people we traveled with.

Sunny and warm in Key West!!!!!!!

2008-02-08T17:45:00.000-08:00

Arrived in Key West today. Long drive across the keys but a beautiful spot. The ocean is beautiful and the weather......well let's just say 92 and sunny is awesome!!!!!

But let's go back.....we had a few great days before today.

We left Orlando and stopped at the Kennedy Space Center for a visit. It was awesome! We hopped on the bus and went out to the viewing platform to see the launch pad and this being the day before a scheduled launch the shuttle Atlantis was on the launch pad. With weather threatening the next day, they had the shuttle covered so it wouldn't be damaged in case of high winds or hail. It was cool to see it there though and realize the next day......it would be in space.

After that stop we went to the Saturn 5 Rocket display. This was the rocket that went to the moon in the Apollo program. 300 plus feet long, WOW! A couple of great movies and then on to our last stop the workshop for preparing parts for the Space Station. Pretty cool to think that we saw things that within the next few years will be circling the earth for years! It was a great stop and we stretched our stay out a little longer so we could take in more......our travelers enjoyed that but it did mean we were a bit late getting into Ft Lauderdale for dinner....oh well!

The next morning we took a trip on the Jungle Queen through the in land waterways that are Ft Lauderdale. This was a tour to see the Rich and Famous. 35 million dollar yachts! 25 million dollar homes. It was unbelievable. A very nice lunch at at Shooters Waterfront Restaurant followed and then back to the hotel, just in time to step out on the beach and see if we could see the Shuttle launch.........nope, but we did see it the day before!

Well that brings us to this day.....Key West, the Southern Most Point of the continental US. Tonight the group went to Mallory Square to watch the sunset(there's a party every night to watch this). I've attached a picture, see the boat.......right in front of the sunset! Great timing on leaving port! But for all who saw, it was still a beautiful sight.

Well I know it's cold back home.......but here, it's warm and wonderful!

ahh yes, we did go the right way......

2008-02-05T06:02:00.000-08:00

We are in Sunny Orlando today. Beautiful sunshine and 84 degrees! Free day today, most of our group headed out to Epcot although a few are going to just relax around the pool today.

We arrived here last night after a great day in St Augustine. We had a great lunch at the Columbia Restaurant and then a trolley tour of the City. A great guide shared with us about the history of this "Oldest City" in Florida. It was a beautiful day there as well.

We arrived in Orlando as did the group who flew in to join us here for the next 11 days. Going to be a great time and maybe even a glimpse at the Shuttle lift off on Thursday!

are we going the right way?

2008-02-01T18:42:00.000-08:00

Left Minnesota and the weather was great....headed south towards Florida.....or did we? The closer we got to our days destination, Bloomington, IL, the more snow we had on the ground. By the time we arrived at the hotel, there was 5-8 inches of the white stuff. The parking lot here was not plowed out totally yet and things are a mess.

But wait.....tomorrow is coming and I can feel the warm breezes of Nashville already.

By the way, have you noticed all the hawks along the roadways this year? What is that all about? And turkeys too! Plenty of those as well.

all our bags are packed...........

2008-01-31T19:22:00.000-08:00

we're ready to go!

5:45am is our first pick up tomorrow morning and then we head south.........on our Florida Grand Tour. Tomorrow we drive as far as Bloomington, IL. Weather outlook is pretty good. A storm crossed our path today, but should be cleared out by tomorrow. Temperatures will hopefully warm as we head south......been home a week, enough of this cold weather!!

And now, a good nights sleep!

Mexican Mayan Riviera......a stay in paradise!

2008-01-28T03:52:00.000-08:00

Returned Saturday from our trip to the Mexican Mayan Riviera. We had 23 travelers with us as we flew into Cancun then traveled by motor coach to the Barcelo Tropical Resort, just south of Playa del Carmen. It was 8 days in paradise.

The beautiful sunrises, the palm trees, blue waters of the Caribbean Sea, it was wonderful. Comments from our travelers were these:

--I've never been in a place this nice.

--I think I'm in heaven.

--we don't have to go home do we?

--this is just beautiful!

We found a place on the beach and soaked up some sun. Walked in the sand and got plenty of exercise. Took a swim in the Caribbean or one of the many beautiful pools. Had a meal at one of the buffets or other specialty restaurants--food was never scarce and it was all very good. Many took a ride on the Hobie Cat Sailboats with Perry and Donna at the rudder. A few tried para sailing. There was time to go snorkeling and see some of the marine life of the area, sea turtles, sting rays and many types of beautiful fish. There were sea tricks that allowed everyone to ride right into the water and enjoy the sun. It was a wonderful place to relax and enjoy.

We took a couple of day trips. The first was to the Mayan ruins at Tulum. We saw what was left of buildings built over 2 centuries ago. Built as a port along the coast. It was magnificent. Then we went to the underground caves of Akten Chen. We walked over 600 yards through caves created by undersea rivers millions of years ago. There were stalactite's and stalagmites throughout the cave and at the end a beautiful Cenote that when the lights were turned on, was awesome. A couple of days later a shopping trip to the coastal tourist town of Playa del Carmen where many picked up their trip souvenirs.

The evenings were filled with entertainment at the resort, from singing to a circus, it was a great way to end each day.

Unfortunately, we had to come home...........but, there is always next year. Many asked if we will be going back...........we hope so, our beach chair is still sitting just next to the life guard stand.

the mystery revealed....

2008-01-18T04:49:00.000-08:00

Returned home safely last night from our 3 day mystery trip. For those of you who don't know what a mystery trip is let me explain. Wonderful people register with our tour company to travel to a destination that they don't know where. Now, this trip was only 3 days long so we really can't go too far, but it's a mystery. For Donna and I, this was our first crack at leading a mystery trip. Of course when people start boarding they want to know where we are going, but we didn't tell them where until we got there! Our destination for this trip...... the Tomah, Wisconsin area.

We started out by going to Cashton, WI. A small community with a growing Amish population. We had lunch at the "Ages Past" B&B. A wonderful meal in a beautifully restored 1890's home that once served as the Rectory for the local Catholic church. Then a tour of the Amish countryside. We stopped by a couple of Amish homes to get a first hand glimpse of their trade and also for a chat with these wonderful folks. Quilts and furniture were available for purchase...and some did travel home with us! A quick stop at a local cheese factory and our tour was complete. It was a beautiful day! Then of course it was on to our lodging for the evening. (picture above is of corn shocks in the field at one of the Amish Farms we stopped at.)

This was kind of fun...we stayed at the "Three Bears Lodge" in Warren, WI. This lodge is really a family park, but our travelers, mainly seniors enjoyed all the amenities of the lodge from the "Boo Boo" sleeping rooms to the magnificent water park with slides, a lazy river, the wave pool and a hot tub that was both inside and outside. Hearing comments like, "this was fun" to "now I know what kind of fun the grandkids have" made it a great experience....when we left, they were ready to go back!!

Day two offered a tour of local Fort McCoy and then a stop at the Cranberry Discovery Center in Warrens. Lot's of information, but we can tell you some facts about Cranberry Farming and most were eager to return during the harvest season to catch a glimpse of that process. And if you happen to catch one of our travelers trying to bounce a cranberry...there is a good reason for that!

Day three it was head for home, but of course the excitement of the day was a few inches of snow. But that didn't deter some more fun, as we stopped in LaCrosse at the City Brewery for a video tour, tasting and a good old German style meal with Brats, Kraut, potato salad and a beer!

It was a great trip......and it won't be long before another mystery trip heads out. But first, we take off tomorrow for a trip with 23 other great travelers to Mexico!!

just beginning.......

2008-01-14T20:41:00.000-08:00

2008 and where will our travels take us? We've found out what a wonderful country we live in and now we continue to travel coast to coast with wonderful people. We work for a tour company, R&J Tours out of Willmar, MN. And this blog will share some of where we go, what we do and what it means to us. "Us", yup that's me, Perry and my wife, Donna. Most of the time we work together, I'm behind the wheel of the Motorcoach and Donna, the tour director is right behind me with up to 46 wonderful travelers.

Tomorrow we begin our first tour of the year.......but shhhhhhhhhhhh, it's a mystery! We can't tell you where we are going yet. But come back soon and you'll find out. For now just know this, it will be a "Warm, Cozy Mystery!"