July 27, 2003 - In route to Nacogdoches, TX, from Swanzey, NH.

This morning we're sitting in the Wal-Mart parking lot in Christiansburg, VA.  Spent our first night in the Wal-Mart in Hazelton, PA, after driving 357 miles.  Yesterday it was 403 miles.  When Barb opened the door of the trailer yesterday morning in Hazelton, she made all kinds of happy noises, and came inside with a newspaper that had been delivered to our door--in the parking lot for crying out loud!  What a neat thing for somebody to do.  Sure put grins on our faces.  Driving like this really isn't all that much fun for us, but it's worth it.  Fun to be together and be able to see things together and talk about stuff.  We're excited about getting the motorhome, although last night when I showed Barb pictures (again) of the two we'll be looking at, her first remark was, "YUK!  Dark floors in the kitchen.  I hate dark floors!"  So, who knows.  Sure, the floor covering can be changed, but at what expense?  This whole process is an interesting one.  We think so differently, the potential for conflict is ever present.  Keeping our collective cool during this time is important to us, and probably many of you can relate to the challenge we're facing.  With God's grace, we'll do just fine I'm sure.

Meanwhile, back at the ranch.

The garishness of the town of Niagara Falls (Canada) is stunning when compared to the natural beauty of the falls themselves.  Granted, some of it is kind of interesting.  I think this is the first time we've ever seen "Beerwear" advertised.  Odd advertising has been catching our eye lately.  "Don't drink and drive" signs followed by "New Hampshire State Liquor Store" with an arrow alongside the highways in NH.  Odd, don't you think?

The police car Barb is standing by looked totally original both inside and outside.  It was on the sidewalk of a place that celebrated criminals.  Grrrrrr.

OK.  Am I becoming a complaining old curmudgeon or is all this just a bit much?  Lemme know at daveandbarbj(at)etcetera4.net if you've a mind to, OK?  And sorry, but you'll have to replace the (at) with a @.  The spam is killing us.

Well, there's beauty in it if you look hard enough.  The flowerpots were really overflowing, and we enjoyed the contrast.  The Falls Tower was an interesting twist on the theme.  The elevator and viewing room are all the same thing.  Kinda neat to watch the huge basket going up and down the pole.

Monsters abound.  The alligator/crocodile was actually quite life like.  It's mouth never did really close, so it was hard to tell which animal it really was supposed to be.  Made a growling noise along with the steam.  Is this a great lifestyle or what?  Sheese!

And speaking of animals that growl........  The beautiful tiger was separated from the girl by this big black board that was aligned with one of the bars on the cage.  The photographer was positioned so the picture would make it appear the kid and the cat were sharing a cage.  All for $7 Canadian I think it was. There was quite a line of kids waiting, too.  All I wanted to do was scratch the cat's chin and see if it would wrinkle up its nose like some domestic pussy cats will do when their chin is scratched.  Barb was a spoilsport and wouldn't let me.

It's now 5:15 PM, we're comfortably parked behind the Foretravel dealer in Kodak, TN, gratefully plugged into 50A service with the A/C running full blast.  IT'S HOT!!  Got here a bit after noon, and after getting set up ran to do the laundry.  Heavy traffic going both ways (North & South) on Hwy 60, but never did find out why.  Lots of "Information" centers offering free maps and discounted tickets, and reminded us a little of the Branson, MO, area.  Wonder what's going on.  We'll have to ask tomorrow when we talk to the salesman about the possibility of trading in the trailer and buying the '99 U320 they have sitting on the lot here.  There are three 1999 U320's in the system currently.  One in TX, the one here, and the other one is with the Motorcade Club as a demo.  More on what happed with all that after it's happened.

This ride was accessed right from the sidewalk.  Riders taken up to the top and then let go in a free-fall, landing on a cushion of air, and bounced up and down a few times.  We watched from the relative safety of the sidewalk.

Even the WWF (World Wrestling Federation - I think) was included in the medley.  But amidst all that chaos, I heard the chirping of a bird, and looked up.  Sure enough, an English sparrow was yelling at the top of his lungs.  Nice music against the noise of the music blaring from the businesses.

Monsters everywhere.  First the one with the mouth as a door that Barb was standing in earlier, and then even Burger King gets in on the act.

Not sure of the connection between Burger King and Frankenstein, but there it was, and then the business that had the police car on the sidewalk.  I have trouble seeing the value in making criminals into heroes.