NA Conquest

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It was a dark and rainy night. Thunder grumbled in the background. God was taking pictures of Western Pennsylvania with every lightning flash. In a small Wexford home, a plot was hatching. Not some sinister or nefarious plot, at least it wasn't suppose to be, but only time will tell. A plot so intricate, it would take months of planning, mapping, and timing/distance calculations. A plot that would try to be all things to only the few select people. A plot large enough to cover over 5,000 miles... It was:

Take an RV from Pittsburgh to Los Angeles!

These are the ruminations of the RV named "NA Conquest". It's 2 week mission: to explore new states; to seek out new monuments and national parks; to boldly go where only the daring can tread (or limp)!

If you are interested in the on going journey, read on. This bold adventure starts July 16, 2011.

Hope you enjoy.

PROLOGUE

Captian's Log: 071620111007

Wow, what a first day! 4 states, $40.00 in tolls and $150 in gas... not to mention the $47.00 KOA campground. Good thing this is a once in a life time. Picked up NAConquest at 8:00 AM, kids about 9:20, and left Wexford at 10:18. Only 18 minutes off schedule. Good news is that I only had one altercation with the rear view mirrors: toll plaza entering Indiana. I was going slow so nothing happened!

Pictures of the states was fun. Pulling off the side of the hiway with HUGE semi's roaring past. Isabel hit her head on the Indiana, and Illinois was impossible to stop, so my picture is weak at best.

Sandwiches for lunch and hot dogs for dinner. Lots of fruit, carrots, water and milk. We'll shop for more food tomorrow about the same time we are watching the USA women's soccer game. GO USA!!

Captian's Log: 071920111007

Missed the Welcome to South Dakota sign, too busy looking at the flooded out Souix City Iowa. Missouri river was well over the banks and there were sandbags everywhere.

We have been out of sensor and communication range for 2 days (reception in South Dakota is non-existent!). Phones have no connection, Sprint, Version, T-Modbile. Nothing! Okay, next time I complain about Pittsburgh being a cultural desert, just remind me about South Dakota. Anyway, no more whining although, I sure you'all missed that :^)

Pulled in VERY late to Mr. Rushmore campground (close to midnight.) Mr. Rushmore was great. I think it is true what my son says, "Dad, you talk to EVERYBODY!" Crazy Horse momument is HUGE, although I'm sure it won't be finished before I die. I should return 20 years from now and see how far they've blasted into the mountain.

We are on our way to Deadwood, SD. See if my buddy is there!

Captian's Log: 072020110857

Deadwood was very nice, didn't gamble, and Kevin wasn't around either. I went to his casino and they had all kind of picutres on the walls of him throughout his life... He seemed to be missing one of the 1973 Villa Park Spartans basketball team. I'll have to forward my picture so he can put it up!

Not as early a start today as I would have liked. Reese's Puffs, Pop-Tarts, Blueberries and orange joice: Breakfast of Champions. There is no good way to get from the Black Hills of South Dakota (with Rocky Raccoon) to Salt Lake City except back roads to Cheyenne, WY. 12 hours on the road again today.

Captian's Log: 072120110828

Well, I though Iowa and South Dakota were desolate. Wyoming barren of almost any human existence. Additionally, there are fewer trees and thousands and thousands of miles of grassland. The landscapes are beautiful with the mountains in the background and tons of rolling hills. I'm thinking of changing retirement plans from Mexico to buying about 10,000 acres here in Wyoming and riding horses, mending fences, etc.

Some interesting things about our travels through Wyoming: There are towns with the population of 4 (Lost Springs) and 1 (Buford). At the state line of Wyoming, there were 4 cars stopped to take pictures of the Welcome To sign. 15 people standing on the Wyoming side... I think that made us one of the largest metropolitan areas in Wyoming.

There was no "Welcome To" sign for entering Utah on I-80. Guess we'll have to do what we did with the South Dakota Sign. Drove into Salt Lake City late last night. It'll be Great Salt Lake, Mormon Tabernacle, and then on to Sin City, "Hey, did I tell you I'm going to Vegas" (trying to channel my best Skuse.)

Captian's Log: 072220112156

"I'll never forget the day, we motored stately into big L.A." LOL, so is someone suppose to be a dog in this scenario? So that can hopefully satisfy any of you going through 60/70 trivia since I haven't been around to provide.

We are now in L.A. and it is great to be back home. Spent yesterday at the Great Salt Lake. Only went up to my knees, it was really shallow with lots of salt! Flies too... not to mention dead birds and fish. Needless to say, I didn't feel like swimming.

Then, went to the Mormon tabernacle. It was neat, really very neat, almost too neat. Everyone was dressed in suits and the women all had nice dresses on. I think we were talking with some guy who looked like he had 3 wives... I can't handle 1 so that didn't seem like a good idea. The building itself is actually smaller than I thought, but I found out that the angel in gold is angel Moroni, who pointed Joseph Smith in the correct direction to find the golden plates that was translated into the Book of Mormon. After that, drove to VEGAS!

Vegas, as always, was fun. Did the Fremont Experience: the covered downtown section with all the light shows on the canopy. They did a bunch of Doors, which I loved of course. Walked up and down and tried to listed to an 80's cover band as well as a Michael Jackson impressionist. Needless to say, that was disappointing. Took a drive down the "Strip" Lots has changed in the 30 years since I've been there. Had In-n-Out and loved it as well as pictures of the Welcome to Las Vegas sign... pictures to follow, probably tomorrow.

Captian's Log: 072620112015

Once again, we have been out of sensor/communication range. This should be about 3 days worth of "stuff" Left L.A. after an exteremely lack lust church service. The Grand Canyon is HUGE. We took a trail out to "ooh-ahh point", it was about a mile and a half out down switchbacks, but it was definitely worth the walk! I think I went up hill faster than downhill... knees liked it better. I'll put a photo, my phone ran out of batteries so no pictures from the point. We went all over the Grand Canyon. Words/pictures can NOT define just how big it really is. Went from Yaki Point to Hermit's rest and all points in between.

We left The Grand Canyon this morning just as the sky OPENNED UP. It was comoing down so hard the windshields wipers on full couldn't clear out the rain. We escaped just in time. As I mentioned before, God is looking out for us. The rain stopped just as we arrived in Winslow, AZ. Yes that is me Standing on the corner in Winslow Arizona.

Rained again as we finished lunch and headed towards "Four Corners", and once again, it stopped as we arrived. Unfortunately, the mud was a couple inches thick, YUCK! After that, it was on to Colorado!

Captian's Log: 072820112048

So my fear of heights is still in tack! Went to the top of the St. Louis Arch! Wow, is it small up there. The ride up in a psuedo space capsule wasn't bad, but once up there I had to keep my feet on the floor and my hands on the 7 foot ceilling.

Captian's Log: 072890111001

Because of some lousy KOA internet connections, I've been forced to skip over some really neat parts of the trip. And by lousy I mean type 20 characters and wait 5 minutes for them to finally show up! Anyway, after Winslow, AZ we had to really push to get to St. Louis by Thursday afternoon. Stayed in Durango Colorado and then drove 16 hours to Salina Kansas. Accidentally knocked of the exhaust pipe from the generator when I hit one of those orange sticks deliniating the freeway (One more of Obama's shovel ready projects!). Did bang the passenger side mirror in Arizona on a LARGE orange barrell, but other than that, no other mishaps.

There was a spectacular lightning show in Kansas. Once night fell, the sky was constatantly being lit up with lightning strikes from all over the sky. Sometimes 2 or 3 bolts at a time. Can't get that in Pittsburgh.

Another problem with KOA internet is that some don't set up the ftp server properly, so I can't upload pictures... I'll have to fill them in later.

We'll be taking the southern route throught Kentucky and in honour of Todd: West Virginia. Lots of trains have gone by us with hundreds and hundreds of coal cars filled to the top. Power plants out here are fairly common out in the middle of nowhere.