Raining. Left house about noon. Stopped at Grand Junction Co. and left Dean (Cooley)'s gift from Ramona Mitchell. Looked for a place to park for the night and finally pulled over at a nice road side stop between Delta and Montrose.
Second Day - 30 May
Took scenic walk up over mesa, cloudy. Left camp about 10:00 a.m. Visited Black Canyon of the Gunnison, beyond Montrose. So very beautiful. Took scenic drive, still cloudy. Often is. That's why it's called Black Canyon. It's almost as deep and large as the Grand Canyon. Jonny would like to put it in a box and take it home. Stopped in Gunnison and bought chicken and burgers for lunch. Went on to Parlin. Stopped at Glaze's store. By coincidence Pat's (Patricia Amanda's) Ted was there. He took Evan, Robyn and Jonny up to see her. They were gone 3 hours and we were worried. They were unhappy with her when they got back. Left Parlin about 6:30. Thought we would stop at a mountain camp but the only ones at Monarch Pass were over 11,000 feet and cold and snowy. Kept looking for a place to stop. Campground over pass was filled. Couldn't find a place to pull over. Finally, after 10 p.m. found rest stop beyond Texas City. Fixed supper and went to bed.
Third Day - 31 May
Left camp about 9:30 a.m. went to Royal Gorge. It was a "royal gorge" alright! Money, money, money to gorge out of us. Took ride on "scenic train" which Evan said was a pretty "chintzy" ride. Cost $2.50. Never went over suspension bridge because it would have cost $7.00 just to ride over it and it would have cost a lot more to ride the tram down. Stopped and fixed lunch at Flagler, Co. Lake almost empty and wind blowing. Black cloud at west still following . Crossed into Kansas and hit beautiful freeway. Stopped and had supper at Horne's at Gainfield exit - good supper and nice people. Stopped at lovely rest stop for night out of Hays, Ks. Even had electricity. Black cloud still there, but tornado warnings had been withdrawn.
Fourth Day - 1 June
All took good "dip" baths and ate breakfast. Loaded up and left camp about 9:15 a.m. Stopped at Salina for gas. Decided to have new air shocks put on the car. Visited Old Abilene and Eisenhower Center. Meditation Chapel where he is buried, it's quiet and peaceful. Kids were excited over his old WWII command car (Cadillac). Headed east on I70. On outskirts of Kansas City left I70 for US 24 and started looking for a place to stop. Pulled into WYCO campground but decided it was too muddy and had too many mosquitoes. Left to see if we could find a commercial campground. Drove and drove and drove. Went through Kansas City, Ks and Kansas City, Mo. Lost I70. Drove around some Negro sections to get back on. Did that once before in Kansas City. Finally found campground at Grain Valley, about 15 miles east of K. C. Hungry and sleepy. Cost $5.50.
Fifth Day - 2 June
Breakfast, took baths, did laundry and the deluge came. It rained and rained. Everything damp, or more accurately, WET. Put half our stuff back in dryer. Left when rain eased up but the deluge came again after we were on our way. Went back to Independence. Found Mission Home. Toured new visitors center. How beautiful it is. They told us that when President Smith dedicated the building two nights before, a great crowd sat out in front. The lightning flashed and the thunder pealed and the sky was black. But the rain held off until he had finished and just as he entered the building the torrents came down. Then toured the RLDS (Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints) Auditorium. Interesting, but many false statements made. Guides are dressed in white skirts and red jackets and are lovely to look at and listen to, but, as Evan said, "too professional" and not quite real. They said that Wallace Smith, their president, is a grandson of Joseph Smith. Don't believe he is. Used to say that their president had to be a descendant. Now say he could be anyone and will be chosen by inspiration. Tour is much shorter than it used to be. Some of our missionaries went through with us. Girl guide kept up a good banter with them. Went through Liberty Jail Visitor's Center. Camped for the night out of Liberty at Wallace State Park. Electricity and showers. Cost $2.50. Supper was pork chops, potatoes and gravy. Before leaving Independence, we toured Harry S. Truman Library.
Sixth Day - 3 June
Took showers, had breakfast and left trailer while we went to visit Farr West. The church has built a lovely monument there, but it's hard to believe that this was once a flourishing town of 5,000. Across the street is another marker and a little white church. It is RLDS. Sign says they returned in 1873 (church built in 1905). Also the sign says that it was at Farr West that Joseph Smith said "his seed" would lead the church. Went back to campground, got trailer and went to Adam On Di Ahman. Much better 4 years ago. Road was better and we could pull trailer clear to top where picnic ground has been built. Markers have been erected to direct you to what is where. We had lunch and now are headed for Hannibal. Toured Mark Twain (Tom Sawyer) childhood home and various other buildings. Becky Thatcher's bedroom, his father's law office, etc. Crossed the wide Mississippi into Illinois. Headed north to Quincy along the beautiful 12 mile drive to Nauvoo. Paid $2.50 to camp in park. Had supper and watched TV.
Seventh Day - 4 June
Well, here's old "Nauvoo the beautiful by the bend in the river". And beautiful it used to be and it is being restored. The night before some local residents were less than courteous, namely a mature woman who honked us off the road and of whom you would have expected better, but today, it was nothing but courteous treatment all the way. Went to the Nauvoo Restoration Visitor's Center and went on a bus tour after viewing a special film. Visited many lovely old restored homes. Especially interesting to the kids was the James Ivins - Elias Smith printing complex. The house was once thought to be John Taylor's but now we know he only lived there for six months after his own place was destroyed. The house has been restored to beautiful condition and the guides, an older missionary couple, reside in the back part. In the old printing office, the lady demonstrated the carding and spinning of wool and flax. Trained archeologists are carefully sifting the soil of the Temple site and have uncovered the baptismal font location, cornerstones and such. All the other known sites are being as carefully checked out. Hopefully, someday, it will be a "living" memorial with this old city partially restored and actual living going on there. After touring that part of the restoration, we went down to the RLDS section and viewed their part which included the old homestead of Joseph Smith, the remainder of the Mansion House (only 9 of 22 rooms left) and the graves of the Prophet and his wife and parents. Went back to camp. Loaded up trailer and headed for Carthage. Took tour of Carthage Jail. Stopped for groceries and headed for New Salem. Got place to park, like a sardine in a can of trailers, but enjoyed the evening. Played Crazy Eight. Cost $3.00.
Eighth Day - 5 June
Had showers and breakfast. Toured old New Salem village. Noted contrast between here in the 1830's and Nauvoo's cultured pattern of the 1840's. Hope the kids gained an appreciation of the ingenuity and resourcefulness of our early settlers and the hardships they overcame to settle our nation. Both Nauvoo and New Salem had much to tell of this. Went back to camp, loaded up and headed for Springfield. Saw Lincoln's home and went to his tomb. This visit was marred by the presence of many girl scouts and campfire girls (hundreds) whose chit-chat and chatter ruined the dignity of the solemn place. Left Springfield about noon. Stopped in Ramsey State Park and had lunch about 3 p.m., just above Vidalia and eventually Linton tonight. Hope Lloyd is at the old home so we will have a place to stay tonight. Seems funny to go to Linton and have Grandma Kline gone. Arrived in Linton after 7:30 p.m. Went to store for some food, drained and filled the water tank. Lloyd still here. Older, but much the same. Still bitter, but seems happy to have us, especially the kids. Set camp up for a few days.
Ninth Day - 6 June
Got up quite early. Fast Sunday, so only Robyn eats. Got ready for church amid some dissension. Very much enjoyed Sunday School and Fast Meeting. Fairly good size crowd for Sunday School but only 22 stayed for Fast and Testimony Meeting. (This included our family of 5, four missionaries and a couple from California.) But a wonderful spirit prevailed and 15 testimonies were given. The branch does not grow, but the old faithful ones remain. Few children. They are mostly grown and gone now. One lady missionary told me that Linton and Green County are considered one of the toughest areas in the whole Indiana-Michigan (new) mission. No success at all is being met here. The Baptist Church is running an active and apparently successful opposition. There are now the two lady missionaries and an older couple, but one of the girls is going home and the others expect to be moved out. The Church seems to feel they can be used to a better advantage elsewhere. Took clothes to laundromat while Owen tries to reach Glenn and Earl by phone. Didn't reach Glenn, but Earl said he will stay the night if we will come over. So here we go to Washington, Ind. Visited with Earl and LaVern and had supper. Saw Patty Kay and her two boys and a baby girl.
Tenth Day - 7 June
Slept in today, took kids swimming, got hair done. Did a little shopping, visited with Kenny and Bertha. Going back to take a bath tonight. Kenneth offered to take kids up on the big "electric" shovel. I stayed behind and mended and sorted clothes. Kids thought visit to strip mine was really something. Leland has left a tent and a mini-bike here with Lloyd. The twins are sleeping in the tent. Evan is spending all his free time getting the mini-bike running and keeping it running. He thinks that is great fun. We went and had our baths and the day ends.
Eleventh Day - 8 June
Went and bought some flowers to take up to Maple Grove Cemetery in Clay City. Evan has stayed behind to go fishing with Uncle Kenny. Owen got lost and finally had to ask his way to the cemetery. Found graves and ran into a cousin. Finally got to Terre Haute. Janet had lunch ready. (Her housekeeping isn't any better). Ned and his new wife there with their three-year old twins. Lois came home. She had really put on weight. Visited with Glenn until he went to work about 2 p.m. and started back to visit Aunt Mamie in Clay City. She wasn't home, so went looking for her sons. Found out Arnold's that she had taken sick last weekend and was now over at Mace's place in Farmersburg. Stopped and saw Melvin and then went looking for Mace's place. After several false starts and finally asking, we found it. Twins really enjoyed these large farms with their dogs, kittens and farm animals. Aunt Mamie seemed so happy to see us and Mace's wife asked us to stay for supper. Fried chicken, country gravy and homemade cookies. Thought Robyn would flounder. It was late when we got back here to the trailer at Lloyd's. Didn't make it to Eugleena's.
Twelfth Day - 9 June
Cleaned up camp. Said goodbye to Lloyd and are on our way. Had a visit and lunch with Eugleena. Again hard to drag kids away from cousins and chickens. Got to Mattie's in Columbus only to find her gone. Waited two hours and snitched a lot of Frank's good June peas. Finally, Eugleena's son, Tommy, told us they had gone to Evansville to visit Elizabeth Ann. Don't know what to do, so we are heading down I65 to Howard's and will call back. It's about 8 p.m. (9 p.m. Louisville time). Arrived and found Howard gone. Will stay the night with Jo Ann. (took baths).
Thirteenth Day - 10 June
Owen talked to Mattie at Evansville. Red (Howard) will be home this afternoon. When Red came home, decided to go to Rough River camping with him tonight. Loaded up and drove down following him. Before we left, went to look at new trailer, but decided we couldn't afford it. Rough River Dam is about 50 miles below the Ohio river in Kentucky. Beautiful country and nice campground, but hot. Jo Ann had fixed supper with ham, green beans and potato salad. Evan went out on lake with Red fishing, but they didn't catch anything.
Fourteenth Day - 11 June
Evan's sixteenth birthday. We take turns in going with Red out in boat. Nice out in boat, but bet we all get sunburned. Kids got to swim. Skippy loved the boat ride. Took off for Mammoth Cave National Park about 4:00 p.m. Beautiful country along winding country roads. Campground costs $3.00 and is lousy. Dirty and noisy. Had trouble finding a place to park the trailer, but finally did amid everyone's cussing and quarreling. Had made Evan a birthday cake but it was so heavy that it could have been used for bricks. Finally had supper and settled down for night.
Fifteenth Day - 12 June
Awoke to the most rip-roaring rain imaginable. Just kept coming down and everything in trailer drip-drips. Got breakfast ready and eaten by climbing over each other. Owen took watery kids through cave and I stayed behind and sopped up water. Somewhere about 1 p.m. the sun made a belated appearance and the air changed from liquid rain to steam. Fixed lunch and took off toward Paducah and eventually Hayti, Mo.
Skippy
Stopped for gas at wide place in road called Round Hill and 24 miles later discovered dog was missing. We turned around, disconnected trailer and, amid prayers and tears, started back to look for "baby". Left Jonny behind to watch trailer and, I'm sure, pray. Broke quite a few speed limits going up hill and down dale. Asked at service station about dog. Sure enough, they said a little brown dog had been wandering around. Finally, he answered our anguished calls and came running for Mama. Got some good face and ear washing from Skippy and went back to pick up Jonny and trailer. Now a tired little dog sleeps with his head on Daddy's knee while we wend down the Kentucky Turnpike( Western Kentucky Expressway - toll .80¢) to Paducah and thought day's excitement over for a while, but it wasn't. Just a little way from Kentucky Dam, a loud bank told of a blown condenser. We found out about real southern hospitality. So many stopped to help us. One man towed our car into a service station. The man there fixed our car for $2. Unbelievable. Owen, Robyn and Jonny had hamburgers while they waited. Evan and I stayed behind with the trailer. Rigged up a danger signal with the electric lamp and my red blouse as it grew dark. Evan and I played a "traffic" count game to pass the time but didn't dare go into the trailer to eat as it rocked so hard with the passing traffic. Sat on air mattress in the grass beside the road. Very nice lady who lived up on the hill above the highway saw us and came down to see if anything she could do. She said we could stay the night at her place but I told her we had a long way to go. She fixed a nice supper of fried chicken and other goodies for Evan and I. Owen and other kids really ticked off. Pulled into Kentucky State park campground. Very nice. $3.00. Put kids to bed and went to laundry to wash. To bed at 2 a.m.
Sixteenth Day - 13 June
Won't make it to Hayti to church now so might as well see some of this gorgeous country. Kentucky is beautiful beyond words - to look at. The climate is horrible. Hot and sticky and stickier today. Took a look at TVA Kentucky Dam. This great lake stretches 184 miles south of here. On the other side is Lake Barkley. The strip of land in the center of the lake is called "the land between the lakes". Watched the locks let a large barge through from Tennessee River to the Kentucky Dam Lake. Very fascinating to watch. The kids then went swimming on a beautiful beach, man-made. Hundreds of people and still hot, hot. Left campground about 3 p.m. Don't know where we are going, but generally toward Hayti and Blytheville. Now on I55 going south and crossed Mississippi where the Ohio joins at Cairo, Ill. Country looks flat after rolling green hills of western Kentucky. Not so wooded either. Hate to leave Kentucky without mentioning the birds - all colors - redbirds - bluebirds, blackbirds, yellow birds and all combinations thereof. Never knew the names of most of them but loved to see and hear them flashing in the bright green foliage. The orioles awoke us this morning. Blytheville looks much the same as when we were stationed here in 1957, but larger. House we lived in is the same as we left it. No one by church in Hayti. Got groceries in Paragould, Ar., and stayed the night in Crowley State Park.
Seventeenth Day - 14 June
No water and no one collected at park. Couldn't use showers but had breakfast and on way to Lake Norfolk. We passed an old style waterwheel on way and kids were fascinated. Kind of leary. Things never are as nice as you remember them being. Probably the ferry ride is short and the lakeside is hot and dirty. For years I've wanted to come back but I don't know now---. Well, for once, memory served itself well. The ferry ride across the lake is long and cool and camps beautiful and clean. We found a place right on the lakeside with cement patios, clean tables and lots of shade. The swimming beach is just down the street and who wants to leave now. Monday and time is short, but wish we could stay for weeks. (Fried chicken for supper.)
Eighteenth Day - 15 June
Still at Bidwell. Rented a boat for the day. Everyone seems happy. Evan is in his prime with the boat. Camp's free, so that saves some. Have to go across two ferries to get to camp and that doesn't hurt Jonny's feelings. Skippy loves boat as much as kids and we've named him "Captain Skip Hornblower" because he stands up in the prow like the painting of Washington crossing the Delaware.
Nineteenth Day - 16 June
Still at Bidwell. Have to have boat back to dock at nine. So up at six and use it a little first. After breakfast took boys across ferry and left them to ride Henderson Ferry while we went to Mountain Home. Noted high prices and left. Old Skip, who cows from the word "bath" takes to swimming like a duck. Followed me clear out. Owen took him way out and let him swim back. After that, couldn't go in without him following me out. Went across both ferries tonight so kids can enjoy one last time.
Twentieth Day - 17 June
Goodbye to Bidwell and Lake Norfolk. Such a wonderful place. Almost tearful. Up at six and cleaned up camp after breakfast. Loaded up (wish we had another week or two). Across 101 Ferry with trailer. Police brought a little girl on who had stepped barefoot into someone's thoughtlessly left beach fire and were rushing her to hospital in Mountain Home. Stopped and cashed another check and bought souvenirs. Saw LDS literature in lobby of bank. At Harrison, turned off to Dogpatch, USA. Didn't have time to make tour. Something to look forward to someday. (They made it back to Lake Norfolk and Dogpatch in 1996.) Got groceries back at Harrison and started through Pea Ridge's fantastic scenery. At Eureka Springs, had to stop and drink some of it in. This has to be "Eden returned to". Where else in all the world could we find mountain scenery like this. Green and luscious. Has to be seen to be believed. Now down out of the Ozark Mountains to the hot flat lands. Heading for Oklahoma. Spent night between Cromwell and Okemah in private campground - $3.50.
Twenty-First Day - 18 June
Up and out of camp by 7:30 a.m. First 100 miles by 9:00 a.m. Straight across I40 now clear to Flagstaff. Passed Oklahoma City. Next big city is Amarillo, then Albuquerque. Out in western Oklahoma. Now near Elk City. Thought I had seen red soil before, like in Kanab, but ne'er anything to equal this. The green is so green and the red so red and sky a water-color blue. In fact, it looks like a child's watercolor landscape with barns and fields. Truly, each part of America has all of its own wonderful beauty. Stopped and ate lunch at Vega, Texas - wide? Spot off road and a park that the people are valiantly trying to cultivate. Surely not hard to tell which way is north here. Just look at the way the trees are leaning. They grow bent like that. Not too many trees, but the highway department has a few every few miles. Not very far along when someone motioned us over. A piece of siding on the trailer had torn loose by the door. Pried and hammered and fastened it back. They call New Mexico the "Land of Enchantment". I call it barren land. Wind is strong and our mileage is dropping drastically. Stopped at Red Arrow campground just out of Albuquerque.
Twenty-Second Day - 19 June
Left about 7:30 a.m. Stopped at Fort Courage (F Troop of TV fans). Fixed lunch of sandwiches there. The different colors along road are fantastic. Indians everywhere, Gallup, N.M. especially. Picturesque to watch them in their native dress. Owen extremely irritated though at the gas prices. Visited the "old city" in Albuquerque. Would have loved to stay for "fiesta" now in progress in evenings. Old Cathedral in square was built in 1706. Passed Joseph City, the first Mormon settlement in Arizona. Finally through Flagstaff and on US I80 to Grand Canyon. Skippy smells the forest or altitude or something for he's suddenly very alert and happy after sleeping all the way through Oklahoma, Texas, New Mexico and most of Arizona. Arrived at Grand Canyon in time to see Indian show at amphitheater. It was Emcee'd by boy who graduated with Michael at BYU General College. Too dark to see Canyon well, so will have to make it back sometime. Fixed supper at an overlook and finally camped and slept in pull-off out of park. Along with a couple of dozen other groups. No space available in park.
Twenty-Third Day - 20 June
Last day out but a long way to go. One last look at the end of Grand Canyon, then on our way, but not very fast. Passed Lee's Ferry and into Jacob's Lake. Lunch in campground. Just as we were about to leave Arizona, a cop pulled us over, the first one we've seen in over 5,000 miles. He said we were going to fast. Our speedometer must lie for others were passing, but we didn't argue and he didn't give us a ticket. Over to Utah and on way to Zion's. Kids were impressed but didn't stop anyplace except at visitor's center. Now we really have to add on miles. Good to see some reasonable gas prices. Home at 9:30 p.m.
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