Guntersville State Park - Guntersville AL

Guntersville State Park - Guntersville, AL 

 Our plans for a summer traveling through Alaska were postponed. Instead of travelling northwest, we headed to Alabama. Our youngest son, Sidney, married his long-term girlfriend, Emma, of 4.5 years blessing our family with a new daughter in law. We are so excited to welcome Emma as the newest Rivard.

The rehearsal dinner was at a park that overlooked Guntersville Lake.  We stepped outside to enjoy the sunset views. The catered dinner was nice and there was an abundance of food. The greatest part of that was the catering staff did all of the setting up and clean up after it was over.

He looks a little nervous to me!!!!! The lady who made the cake did an incredible job!! It was stunning. 

Emma's dad escorted her down the aisle. She was so beautiful in her wedding dress. She looked a tad nervous as well. Their lives were about to be forever changed. Her brothers and sisters stood with her as part of the bridal team. It was so nice to see the brothers supporting her for this special day. The concept of a bridesmen was a cool twist to the typical line of bridesmaids. 

 

I love the expression on Emma's face as they started to walk down the aisle. Hopefully, they will always be this happy and in love.

Dennis was the only brother that came down for the wedding. We were so thankful to share this time with him. Life is never dull when Dennis is around. He keeps everyone around him in a great mood and laughing. 

Megan and Adrian also came down for the wedding. It is always great to spend time with them.

They have come to see us several times since we have been travelling. They also take care of all our mail and things when we are on the road. We are so thankful for all the work they do for us. 

Dad looks a bit happy and proud to share this day with them. Mark has taught him so many life skills he will need as an adult. 

We were chatting with our boy after he gave us a giant, wet hug! He had been swimming and felt we also needed to get wet. Almost all of the bridal party, except the bride, ended up fully dressed in the pool before the night was over. They had a ball together enjoying this memorable night. 

We were able to see Mr. & Mrs. Sidney Rivard after their honeymoon, with Bella, the newest addition.

The honeymoon to the Dominican Republic at an all adult, all inclusive resort was our wedding gift to them. 

The wedding took place outside at Emma's grandfather's house on the lake. The home and the views were simply amazing. They had a large bridal party with many of their friends. They all seemed to have had a great time with each other. Some of the groomsmen have been friends with Sid since first grade.  Lifelong friends are like family. We are so glad that they both have such good friends to share their day with them. The weather was insanely hot, so we were very thankful for the trees. The reception followed the wedding at his house also. The home was custom built specifically for entertaining, so the setting was perfect. The tables were set up overlooking the lake. It was a great weekend with family and friends.

We got the last one married off.... whew....  

 

Americas Best Campground - Branson, MO

 Americas Best Campground - Branson, MO

We decided to stop in Branson, MO on our way to Guntersville, AL for the big shindig (Emma and Sid's wedding).  Since neither of us have ever been to Branson, it was on our bucket list and seemed to be the perfect  opportunity.  We would be able to take a rest from the traveling and take in some shows.  Looking at the area, it was very promising for hiking also.

We saw some shows, Reza (magician) was very good; The Petersons (blue grass family band); The Haygoods (family country variety show); Clay Cooper's Country Music Express (family country show) and the Bald Knobbers Jamboree (the first show in Branson- credited with starting in 1959).  We thought all of the shows were pretty good.  By the time we saw the Bald Knobbers, we were pretty burnt out, so maybe the show was better than we thought.  It was a whirlwind of shows and eating out at some interesting restaurants. Lisa was her usual thrifty self and found a bunch of BOGO coupons for the local restaurants, so we made good use of them. 

No stop in Branson would be complete without making our way to Springfield, MO to see the USS Lapon Sail at the American Legion.

USS Lapon (SSN-661) was the Submarine Mark was stationed on twice in his Navy career. When the ship was decommissioned, the sail was given to Ozark Runner Submarine Vet Base.  

We did find time for one hike while we were in Branson. It ended up being a really great stop for us- especially since we were doing new things in a new area and it was the great rest break we needed.

Sparrow Foot COE - Clinton, MO

 Sparrow Foot COE - Clinton, MO

Corp of Engineer campgrounds are probably our favorite place to stay. We definitely prefer them over the high priced resorts. Many of the resorts are over $100/night and the sites are usually super cramped with very little space between sites and usually, there are no trees.  Our Senior Pass allows us to stay half price- but their rates are already super low. We usually pay $10-12 for an awesome 50 amp site with full hookups.  Most of the Corp parks are on a lake, river or dam, so we usually have a water front view. The sites are never crowded or super close to each other, plus typically we have been lucky enough to be one of only a few campers in the park. The parks are always shaded by mature trees. The sites are often paved and very easy to level the RV. We would be more than happy to camp in nothing but COE parks if they were more readily available in more places. When I compare campgrounds, the COE parks are the ones I use as the basis for my comparison. We have yet to stay in any resorts that were even remotely comparable, much less better than a COE park.

Lisa was hanging out with "Give'em Hell Harry" outside his presidential library and museum.

Harry S. Truman (May 8, 1884 – December 26, 1972) was the 33rd president of the United States, serving from 1945 to 1953. A leader of the Democratic Party, he previously served as the 34th vice president from January to April 1945 under Franklin Roosevelt and as a United States senator from Missouri from 1935 to January 1945. He assumed the presidency after Roosevelt's unexpected death. Truman implemented the Marshall Plan to rebuild the economy of Western Europe and established both the Truman Doctrine and NATO to contain the expansion of Soviet communism. He proposed numerous liberal domestic reforms, but few were enacted by the conservative coalition that dominated the Congress.

Truman grew up in Independence, Missouri. During World War I, he fought in France as a captain in the Field Artillery. Returning home, he opened a haberdashery in Kansas City, Missouri and was elected as a judge. Truman was elected to the United States Senate from Missouri in 1934. In 1940–1944, he gained national prominence as chairman of the Truman Committee, which was aimed at reducing waste and inefficiency in wartime contracts.

Truman was elected vice-president in 1944 and assumed the presidency 82 days later following the death of Roosevelt. Not until he became president was Truman informed about the ongoing Manhattan Project and the atomic bomb. Truman authorized the first and only use of nuclear weapons in war against Hiroshima and Nagasaki in Japan. Truman's administration engaged in an internationalist foreign policy by working closely with British Prime Minister Clement Attlee. Truman staunchly denounced isolationism. He energized the New Deal coalition during the 1948 presidential election and won a surprise victory against Republican Thomas E. Dewey that secured his own presidential term.

Truman presided over the onset of the Cold War in 1947. He oversaw the Berlin Airlift and Marshall Plan in 1948. With the involvement of the US in the Korean War of 1950–1953, South Korea repelled the invasion by North Korea. Domestically, the postwar economic challenges- such as strikes and inflation, created a mixed reaction over the effectiveness of his administration. In 1948, he proposed Congress pass comprehensive civil rights legislation. Congress refused, so in 1948 Truman issued Executive Order 9980 and Executive Order 9981 which desegregated the armed forces and federal agencies.

He was eligible for reelection in 1952, but with weak polls, he decided not to run. Republican Dwight D. Eisenhower attacked Truman's record and easily won the election. Truman went into a retirement marked by the founding of his presidential library and the publication of his memoirs. It was long thought that his retirement years were financially difficult for Truman, resulting in Congress establishing a pension for former presidents, but evidence eventually emerged that he amassed considerable wealth, some of it while still president. When he left office, Truman's administration was heavily criticized, though critical reassessment of his presidency has improved his reputation among historians and the general population. He is now considered to be one of the country's most successful presidents.

Decades of poor maintenance, the construction of a fourth-story attic during the Coolidge administration, and the addition of a second-floor balcony over the south portico for Harry S. Truman took a great toll on the brick and sandstone structure built around a timber frame. By 1948, the house was declared to be in imminent danger of collapse, forcing President Truman to commission a reconstruction and to live across the street at Blair House from 1949 to 1951.

The work required the complete dismantling of the interior spaces, construction of a new load-bearing internal steel frame, and the reconstruction of the original rooms within the new structure. The total cost of the renovations was about $5.7 million ($64 million in 2022). Some modifications to the floor plan were made, the largest being the repositioning of the grand staircase to open into the Entrance Hall, rather than the Cross Hall. Central air conditioning was added, as well as two additional sub-basements providing space for workrooms, storage, and a bomb shelter. The Trumans moved back into the White House on March 27, 1952.

While the Truman reconstruction preserved the house's structure, much of the new interior finishes were generic and of little historic significance. Much of the original plasterwork, some dating back to the 1814–1816 rebuilding, was too damaged to reinstall, as was the original robust Beaux Arts paneling in the East Room. President Truman had the original timber frame sawed into paneling; the walls of the Vermeil Room, Library, China Room, and Map Room on the ground floor of the main residence were paneled in wood from the timbers.

A replica of the Oval Office during Harry's administration is on display in his library. He was the last President to not use the Resolute Desk.

Harry maintained an office at the Library/Museum where he worked 5-6 days a week until his death.  The office remains as he left it.

The memorial walk leads to the gravesites of Harry and Bess.

President Truman kept this passionate letter from William Banning in his desk drawer. Included with the letter was the Purple Heart earned by Mr. Banning's son, who died in the Korean War. Truman issued the orders for the US military to enter the Korean War in an attempt to limit the Communist invasion.

Lisa was standing with Harry as we left the library. We have really enjoyed visiting the Presidential libraries and museums, but sadly we have missed a few along our journeys. We plan to go back and visit the ones we missed and try to see all the remaining ones.

Hillsdale State Park - Paola, KS

 Hillsdale State Park - Paola, KS

We traveled across Kansas from Woodland Park, CO in 3 days.  We did not get to stop and see a lot on our way through the state.  I guess we will have to return to see what all we missed. During our two night stay, we were able to see a couple of things trip advisor considered to be top attractions.

Erected in 2001, the 24 X 32-foot Vincent van Gogh replica painting sits on an 80 foot easel weighing 40,000 lbs. The painting and easel are currently one of only three in the world. This was one of the main attractions in the city, according to trip advisor, so maybe we did not miss too terribly much.

Lisa and Karma were posing with the bronze buffaloes in our campground. This has been a crazy year for buffaloes in our national parks, mainly for some crazy people doing crazy things. There have been multiple buffalo attacks this year in several different parks. Typically, the attacks occurred when the person tried to get a selfie picture with them or tried to pet them.  The Park Rangers have tried to warn people that these are wild animals, but some folks just refuse to heed the advice and park rules. The park rules are not a secret, almost every overlook, road or trail head has signs posted saying not to interact with the wildlife. Some tourists in Yellowstone decided a newborn buffalo had been abandoned, so they put it in their van and took it to the Ranger Station.  The calf had to be destroyed because it was rejected when returned to the herd.  Some idiots deserve to be attacked. The "You might be a D.A." award should be given to some of  these folks.

The stop in Hillsdale was to visit with family.  We did not do any significant tourist activities while there. We were able to complete some coach repairs/chores that we needed to do. We actually enjoy having a down day every now and then to catch up and rest.  Mark got to play frisbee golf with Nick (brother), Cary (nephew), and several of Cary's friends on a course they built. Several different groups have rated it the best college frisbee golf course in the nation. They designed and built it on the agricultural farm that Cary runs.   We spent most of our time eating really well and visiting with our family.  While planning our adventure, we planned to visit each of Mark's brothers and many of his nieces, nephews and even a few cousins during our first year being nomads. We have one more brother to visit, and we will have accomplished our goal. 

Diamond Campground and RV Park - Woodland Park, CO

Diamond Campground and RV Park - Woodland Park, CO 

Garden of the Gods is a 1,341 acre public park located in Colorado Springs. 862 acres of the park was designated a National Natural Landmark in 1971. Acreage has been added over the years as it was acquired. 

The area now known as Garden of the Gods was first called Red Rock Corral by the Europeans.  In August 1859, two surveyors who helped to set up Colorado City, explored the site. One of the surveyors, Melancthon S. Beach, suggested it would be a "capital place for a beer garden". His companion, the young Rufus Cable, was so awestruck by the impressive rock formations, he exclaimed, "Beer Garden! Why, it is a fit place for the Gods to assemble. We will call it the Garden of the Gods" as reported by the April 5, 1893 issue of the Colorado Transcript.

You can see Pikes Peak (the snow capped mountain in the far distance) from the Garden of the Gods.

Karma was resting (or maybe posing?) on the rocks. He typically finds a shady spot to rest, but we were above the tree line, so there were not any trees this high up.

Lisa and Karma were mountaineering while at the Garden of the Gods.

This is a perfect example of Karma finding a shady spot to rest. He is truly not a fan of the heat but he does keep us entertained. He is a pretty good hiking partner.

Overlooking Colorado Springs, we were able to see for many miles.

 Most of the park has red sandstone, yet there was this one area of white stone. It was a stark contrast from the sandstone found everywhere else in the park. The picture does not show the surrounding stone, but it is all red sandstone around this section of white rock.

This is a massive bronze plate mounted into the side of the cliff honoring Charles Perkins for his donation of 480 acres to the city to establish a free, public park.

She is getting braver. She will be free climbing soon (just as soon as the proverbial Hades freezes over). She struggles a bit with these tiny ledges and nothing to break her fall. Grace has never been her strength and the fear of falling typically keeps her as far away from the ledge as she can get.

We saw a cat at the top of this rock formation ready to pounce. We both spot many images in the rocks while we hike, but we seldom see the same things.

These were two separate views of the Balanced Rock. Every park seems to have at least one similar rock precariously perched and aptly named Balance Rock.

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The Florissant Formation is a sedimentary geologic formation outcropping around Florissant, Teller County, Colorado. The formation is noted for the abundant and exceptionally preserved insect and plant fossils that are found in the mudstones and shales. Based on argon radiometric dating, the formation is Eocene (approximately 34 million years old) in age and has been interpreted as a lake environment. The fossils have been preserved because of the interaction of the volcanic ash from the nearby Thirty nine Mile volcanic field with diatoms in the lake, causing a diatom bloom. As the diatoms fell to the bottom of the lake, any plants or animals that had recently died were preserved by the diatom falls. Fine layers of clays and muds interspersed with layers of ash form "paper shales" holding beautifully preserved fossils. The Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument is a national monument established to preserve and study the geology and history of the area.

The name Florissant comes from the French word for flowering. In the late 19th century, tourists and excavators came to this location to observe the wildlife and collect samples for collections and to study. The Petrified Forest, which is one of the main attractions at the monument today, lost much of its mass due to collectors removing large amounts of petrified wood from the site. The removal of the Petrified wood includes the stump Walt Disney removed and has on display at Disney World.

In 1969, the Florissant Fossil Bed National Monument was established after a long legal battle between local land owners and the federal government. Today, the park receives approximately 60,000 visitors a year, and is the site of ongoing paleontological investigations.

Hornbeck Homestead is the last of the remaining buildings from the 1800's community still in the Park.

This appears to be regular wood that had been torn apart, but it is actually petrified wood.  The petrified wood here is completely different from what we saw in the Petrified Forest in Arizona. Structures have been erected over several of the larger remaining pieces of petrified wood to protect and keep the weather off them.

We had wrongly assumed that the Petrified Forest in Arizona was the only place where petrified wood existed.  We have seen it in both National Parks/Monuments and on many of our hikes throughout Utah and Colorado.  It makes us very thankful that our ancestors realized these areas needed to be protected.  Obviously, many of the areas could have been protected much earlier than they were.  The forward thinking of many people have ensured this and many other areas will be protected for our children and theirs in the years to come.