Tuesday, April 26, 2022

Temperature 71 Degrees, Abundant Sunshine

Victorian Acres RV Park, Nebraska City, NE

Time to get caught up.

Yesterday was a travel day. We’re steadily making our way north and then we’ll swing west.

Yesterday we left Kansas and made our way to Nebraska. So, we’ve now been able to add two more states to our map.

During our trip along the way we had a little bit of everything. We had some wind gusts from the side, several significant construction delays, and several delays as we made our way through some small towns along our route. All in all it was a tiring day and by the time we arrived we both were ready to just chill (more about chilling a little later).

The first challenge was just finding our new home. The GPS said one thing, the directions on the park’s web site said something else, and when we called the RV park the woman we spoke to was as clear as mud! Ms. Barbara just kept saying trust me I’ll get us there. And as always true to her word she did indeed get us there without muss or fuss. My lady is a first rate navigator.

This is where we eventually landed yesterday. It was just a mile from the interstate so it was indeed easy to get to. A quick left turn

under the arch

past the eagle

and we are home through Thursday, leaving on Friday. This is another really nice RV park. It appears well maintained and taken care of. The entrance is well marked, the road in is a mix of paved and gravel and is in great shape. The roads in the park are gravel, all in great shape, of adequate width and easy to navigate.

Our site in particular is more than long enough for Elvira and the Little Gray Ghost (I decided to rename it!) It is hard packed gravel but it is not even close to being level either side to side, or front to back. However, once again the jacks took care of the issue.

Other than one other rig way up the other end of the row, we are all alone. Which got me to thinking, is this the wrong time of the year to be here? Well, remember what I said earlier about just chilling? Wonder of wonders, last night the temperature took a nose dive. How about 29 degrees! We were definitely chilling! So, we threw the heavy blanket on the bed, switched from heat pumps to propane furnace and we made it through the night just fine. Ah, the warm winter temperatures of Florida are now just a fond memory.

Some have asked how Proton is doing with the nomadic lifestyle. Up until our last sightseeing trip he was so-so. He seems to be adjusting to travel days but not to being left home alone. The first two times we left him home alone he was sort of OK. But the last time! He ate the left over piece of pizza, got into his treats, bunched up the one shade, cleared off the kitchen counter, and did the same to the counter behind our kitchen table. Suffice to say, we have now purchased a travel crate which he will stay in when we go sightseeing. This way we can go out and not worry about our house being in pieces when we return.

All in all life on The Road of Retirement is great. We are so blessed to be able to do what we are doing and to be doing it together. What more could one ask for? Life is not about the toys you accumulate but about the time spent with those you love. For myself and Barb paraphrasing a famous song Like life is making memories with the one I love.

Thanks again for stopping by today  It’s always great to be able to share our story with others. Comments? Feel free to share them with me. And always remember, cherish each day that God gives you and live it to the fullest.

Our continuing mission remains the same: to explore as many new states as possible, to seek out new acquaintances and make new friends, to boldly go where we have not been before

Sunday, April 24, 2022

Temperature 67 Degrees, Moderate Winds, Abundant Sunshine, Clear Blue Skies

Welcome to Oz

We had come here for one reason, and that reason we fulfilled yesterday. That reason being a trip to The Oz Museum. Yet, as is so often the case once we got here we found so much more to do, more than time would permit. I also found one more museum in particular that I wanted to visit but it is temporally closed. Maybe someday in the future we will return.

So, without further ado let’s go to OZ. We honestly had no idea what the museum would be like. Would it be just a hole in the wall? Would it be a why bother trip? Well, let me say how pleasantly surprised and thrilled we were when we actually arrived. It is located on Wamego’s main street in-between two other stores. Wandering through the museum proved to be a truly wonderful way to spend an afternoon. If you are a fan of the Wizard of Oz you absolutely owe it to yourself to put a trip here on your bucket list. Now, a few facts about the museum:

the museum showcases the collection of a Wamego native, hence its location

the current collection features over 2000 items, considered to be of the most extensive in existence

new items are donated to the museum on a regular basis hence the exhibits are constantly refreshed

the museum honors over 100 years of Oz history

the museum opened its doors in 2004

Step in the front door and look who is there to greet you, complete with his new heart!

Time, indeed, to go find the Wizard.

Let’s meet the author.

Here is what we learned about him:

before he authored the Wizard of Oz he worked as actor, playwright, journalist, chicken breeder, axle lubricant merchandiser, and traveling salesman

he was famous for creating fairy tales to amuse his four sons and the neighborhood children

some of the stories he told his sons were set in a magical land filled with adventure. When they asked him the name of this land, it is said he happened to look over at his file cabinet, saw the letters O to Z, and replied it is the land of OZ

his mother in law encouraged him to write his fairy tales down and have them published. So, together with an illustrator by the name of W.W. Denslow they worked together to develop the new story and its characters.

they considered many titles for the book, for instance, From Kansas to Fairy Land, The Emerald City, and The Land of Oz. They finally settled on the title we know today The Wonderful Wizard of Oz.

Title settled on, book completed, they could not find one interested publisher and so finally published the initial book using their own money.

to date The Wonderful Wizard of Oz has sold tens of millions of copies and remains one of the top selling books of the twentieth century.

Just think, it all began with a simple story meant to amuse his sons!

After The Wonderful Wizard of Oz was published Baum received countless letters from children wanting to read more about his magical land. During his lifetime he authored several more books. However, the books didn’t stop after his passing.

OK, time to move along since we have so much more to share.

After the first book Baum and Denslow disagreed on royalties and so parted ways. John R. Neil stepped in as illustrator for the second and subsequent books. Shown here are 24 color illustrations by Neil.

Let’s talk about the MGM movie that came from the book.

the total cost of producing, releasing, and promoting the movie topped out at an unheard of sum at that time of over three million dollars

while the book took place in a land of adventure, the movie became just a dream since it was thought that this would appeal more to an adult audience

Buddy Ebsen was originally cast as the tin man but left after becoming sick from inhaling his silver powder make-up. It evolved into a silver paste when Jack Haley took over the role

some of the early and abandoned characters for the movie included a prince and princess; a woodpecker who would ruin the exit of the professor by popping his balloon

the ruby red slippers were originally silver but came across in color as black and white so they were changed to the color we know of today

Quick question – who was the producers first choice for Dorothy in the MGM movie? If you answered Shirley Temple you were right! But she turned it down. However, though Judy Garland was finally chosen it is said that they worked hard to create an acceptable appearance for her. They began by trying to make her look like Shirley Temple but then she was given a much more believable appearance as a midwestern small-town girl that she really was.

And what have we here? If you answered Munchkins you were right!

There is still so much more to see, too much for one blog. Let me try and highlight some of the exhibits. Enough, hopefully to peek your interest in going to visit the museum yourself.

I wonder where we will end up?

OK, come quickly now. Outside the museum and across the street we go to the

And does anyone know where Baum got the idea for the Emerald City? The Glorious White City known as the Chicago World’s Fair of 1893.

Oh, there is so much more to see at the museum. But time does not permit. So let me say it again, do go and see it for yourself for I know you’ll be just as amazed and delighted as we were with what the museum has to offer.

Thanks again for stopping by today  It’s always great to be able to share our story with others. Comments? Feel free to share them with me. And always remember, cherish each day that God gives you and live it to the fullest.

Our continuing mission remains the same: to explore as many new states as possible, to seek out new acquaintances and make new friends, to boldly go where we have not been before

Friday, April 22, 2022

Temperature 79 Degrees, Overcast, Winds 25 to 35, Gusting to 40 mph

Smoky Hill RV Park, Junction City, KS

Today was a travel day. We were leaving Oklahoma and moving north to the state of Kansas. Since it would be a 5 hour drive we decided to break it up by stopping for fuel half way.

The weather forecast was not the best. Though no rain was in the forecast the wind was supposed to be in the 25 to 35 mph range with higher gusts. However, since the winds were coming from the south and we were moving due north I figured we shouldn’t have much of an issue. And for the most part this proved correct. We only had one part of the trip were we had an issue and that is when we took a jog to the North East. Then off and on it was white knuckle driving for about an hour. Overall, though, not a bad trip at all.

So where are we now?

We are at Smoky Hill RV Park which welcomed its first RV’ers back in 2020. It’s a nice park that gives evidence of being well taken care of and well maintained. The entrance is well marked and easy to find. The entrance road is paved and wide and the roads in the park are gravel, adequate width, and easy to navigate.

This is our new home until Monday. Our site has a gravel base, it is of adequate width, and dead level. There is more than enough space between sites. We also have a concrete patio and a brand new picnic table. Remember the wind I mentioned earlier? It is absolutely fierce here in the park. Though we put up our satellite antenna we were soon forced to bring it down because of the wind. I mean to get out of Elvira you literally have to hold the door with two hands or it will be ripped right out of your hands. Our jacks are down but we are still rocking and rolling. It’s going to be an interesting night.

So that is where we are at on The Road of Retirement. Maybe tomorrow, maybe the day after we’re going to see the wizard. That’s why we are here. But for now, you’ll have to excuse me it has been a long day and I’m ready for some shut eye. Good night, and God bless.

April 21, 2022

Temperature 83 Degrees, Abundant Sunshine, Windy

Science Museum Oklahoma

I was going solo today. Ms. Barbara had decided that she really wasn’t up to another museum. In addition, she had several projects she wanted to complete in Elvira. The number one project being putting the kitchen back together after we had disposed of our unwelcome visitor. That visitor being a mouse. In almost four years of full timing this is the first time we’ve ever had a rodent problem. But no more. The little critter has been disposed of.

The picture at the beginning of the blog shows my destination. Again, this is one of those wonderful museums that I just sort of stumbled upon. I was going to pass it up but I am oh so glad I didn’t. Their literature claims that it covers 390,000 square feet which makes it one of the largest science museums in the nation. It is literally filled to the rafters with fun things to see and do. I spent a delightful three hours wanderings its exhibits.

My first discovery before I even entered the museum.

This is an overview of part of the first floor from the second floor balcony.

If you look closely you will see children here, there, and everywhere. I learned only after I began my tour that today was field trip day for many of the local schools. And what better place to bring them, this museum is chock full of interactive hands-on displays that invite kids to learn by doing.

Remember I’ve often said, Any day I learn something new is a good day? Well, today was a good day. Let me share with you a few of things I learned today.

Still on the subject of oil and well drilling.

Do you know the various grades of oil? I didn’t but I learned.

Here are some interesting facts about oil.

Really?

Moving along, our next stop is the Planetarium.

There was a captivating, twenty minute presentation on the make up of our galaxy.

Outside the actual Planetarium were some plaques on the wall with some facts I never knew but do now. Such as,

Turning our now to

The hottest place on earth – 136 degrees Fahrenheit! Way too hot for me.

Did you catch that about the coldest place? -129 Degrees Fahrenheit! I don’t think my heat pump would handle that.

Well, I’ve just touched on some of the exhibits. There was a separate section for planes, for trains, and for space exploration. Among many other exhibits.

Oh, less I forget

Suffice to say this was a most intriguing place and I’m glad I had the opportunity to spend some time here. If in the area some day I highly recommend a visit to this most captivating museum.

Thanks again for stopping by today  It’s always great to be able to share our story with others. Comments? Feel free to share them with me. And always remember, cherish each day that God gives you and live it to the fullest.

Our continuing mission remains the same: to explore as many new states as possible, to seek out new acquaintances and make new friends, to boldly go where we have not been before