Blogs from United States, North America

Woke up to a cool, but glorious morning. The sun is shining and the sky is clear, a perfect day for touring Yellowstone National Park. We stopped last night in Wapiti, WY at Green Creek RV Park . It was a small, but clean park and it had this very unusual structure at the top of one of the hills on the property. It looked like a cross between a castle and a pagoda. Someone had obviously put a lot of time into it, but it was never completed. Ray later inquired about it and was told is is called The Smith Mansion. It was never completed because the builder fell to his death while building it. After setting up, Raymond went to do laundry while I made potato salad to go with dinner. We had ... read more

Left Mexico a year ago to contract a house for myself in the mountains. I sketched it up while on watch on a ship in the Philippines. It has been a hard project for what will probably be my last adventure; being an old man and such. The terrain, weather and lack of subcontractors has made it a slow process. I have been living in a camper on site. The winter was brutal I hope to be in the house in another month. ... read more

Bill, Kate and I waited till May 2024 to do this leg. While many people think of Utah and Nevada as desolate hot and dusty desert country, in fact this stretch includes some of the highest mountain peaks of the Lincoln Highway, and snow can persist into May. There were logistical challenges for this segment. The stretch of Lincoln Highway from Salt Lake City to Ely, Nevada included 270 miles between gas station and services and lots of rough roads. We were advised by other travelers and Kayla, our helpful host at a ranch we stayed in Callao, Utah to bring lots of water, extra gas, a spare tire and food. April 29th: Bill was super excited that we were able to get a brand new Jeep Wrangler at National Rental Car at the Reno airport. ... read more

There are many things (with the help of "Passing Through Travel" to do in Napa Valley: The Oxbow Public Market is the epicenter of Napa’s local food and wine scene, offering a vibrant mosaic of gourmet vendors, artisan cafes, and specialty shops. This bustling marketplace showcases the bounty of Napa Valley’s agricultural heritage and serves as a gathering place for locals and visitors. From farm-fresh produce to artisanal cheeses and wines, the market is a culinary adventure that reflects the diverse flavors of the region. Downtown Napa is the vibrant heart of the Napa Valley, where the region’s rich history meets modern luxury and sophistication. This bustling area is a haven for foodies, art lovers, and shoppers, offering an array of boutique shops, world-class restaurants, and galleries. The Napa Riverwalk is a highlight, providing a scenic ... read more

I slept pretty well last night, waking up at about 7:30am or so. My wife woke up at 4am, hoping to see the Northern Lights, but was disappointed again. Well, we have 2 more nights to hope. Today we planned on visiting the Museum of the North, at the University of Alaska Fairbanks. Again, since there was no bus, we planned on walking there. We left the hostel around 9am, and walked down College Road to University Ave., then followed the phone up and around to the museum. We probably could have taken an easier/shorter route, but we didn't know. There were some nice views along the way. We reached the museum, paid our $16 each entry fee, for seniors, and started our tour. The museum is pretty big, with some cool stuff about history and ... read more