Carol's Pond

  June 17, 2021 Today was a day of accomplishments. The major accomplishment was riding a train pulled by a steam driven locomotive. That is something that I had wanted to do for years and years. I have ridden modern diesel electric trains from Indiana to California and again from Indiana to Seattle to Los Angeles and then back to Indy. Sadly this train was fueled with fuel oil. It was a full size boiler on a narrow gauge frame. The train was delayed about 30 minutes so we got a late start. We stopped 4 times for water and to oil the engine on the way up and 3 times on the way back. The scenery was magnificent. However, Silverton is a tourist trap. They cut into our lunch time so I just had an order of french fries and a sweet tea for $10. I did not have time to finish either one, because time was against me. On the way to the restaurant, I saw a shop I wanted to go to. There I found the wallet and check book cover I have been looking for. They turn the train a

  June 16, 2021 Today was a very short driving day. It was only about 150 miles from Farmington, NM to Durango, CO. I tried to call the train station this morning to make reservations and could not get a live human on the phone. The clown that invented automated answering machines systems had to be one sadistic jerk. But I walked in the depot and luckily someone had canceled and I was able to get a ticket. I will be on the train that is being pulled by a steam locomotive. To ride a steam train has been a dream of mine for many years. We tried in Alaska but they were doing the diesel that day. Ticked me off, which is easy to do. Like Virginia City, NV, Durango, CO is a tourist trap. However, I had been looking for new moccasins and found a pair made in Canada. The others I had seen were made in the Dominican Republic. At least Canada is an ally. My old ones were purchased in Mt. Home, Idaho in 1968. But sadly my feet have grown and I can no longer wear them.

  June 13 th to 15 th June 13 th found me in Carson City, NV. I left and went up to Lake Tahoe. But being a cheap jerk, I refused to pay 15 bucks to park and go down to the waters edge. But it is a pretty lake. I like Craters Lake better. I met Sammy's uncle at Tahoe. He is black and is missing part of his tail. But he really enjoyed eating the ants. So I have named it Anti. One thing I really liked about Tahoe was the fragrance of the air. It was very pleasant, but I could not identify it. From Carson City, I headed to Bryce Canyon. A truly spectacular place. The rock formations are amazing. Traffic was a pain and I encountered one idiot on the way there that by his driving he must be suicidal. From Bryce I headed to Zion National Park. It is rather disappointing after Bryce but it was still worth the trip. I saw a couple of things that surprised me. One was the skeleton of a horse just off the road. That area is wild horse country. And I also saw some d

  June 10 th , 11 th and 12 th June 10 th , I was in Carson City, Nevada. It is a pretty town and kind of a gateway to Virginia City, Silver City and Lake Tahoe. I explored Virginia City via the truck. Sadly I did not see any of the Cartwrights. On the 11 th I went back and walked most of the main street. It is a pure tourist trap. I bought 2 bars of Bonomo's Turkish taffy. When the clerk said that will be $7.98. I almost wet myself. I was so shocked I just paid it. But then I headed for a diner that had been highly recommended. That was a bad idea too. The chicken was acceptable, but the mashed potatoes were out of a box and not fit to eat. The slaw was not real good either. I left town, never to return. There is a train ride there that I considered going back for, because on the weekend they run a steam engine. I want to experience that. June 12 th is my late sister Gini's birthday. Happy 82 nd Birthday!!!! This morning I took a drive up to L

  June 9, 2021 Pictures of the trip to date. Gunsmoke St. in Dodge City, Kansas Oil burning Baldwin Locomotive steam engine in Dodge City, KS. It was built in 1903. Info about the train I estimate the drive wheels were 5 feet in diameter A bar I passed and had to stop and check it out. The brands on the paneling are authentic. The current owners inherited the name from the original owner and they liked it so they kept it. A side view Tonight I am in Winnemucca, NV It is a no tell motel complete with a hooker at the front door. From her looks, she might swing either way. Get me out of here!!!! Tomorrow I will head on west. I want to visit Lake Tahoe, Virginia City and Carson City. Carson City was home to a US Mint with CC as the mint mark. Coins with that mark are quite valuable. If it is open, I will take the tour. For some reason the pictures did not come through to the Blog.  I will research it and try again

  June 7 th and 8 th 2021 The 7 th was a travel day and nothing exciting happened. I did see a lot of antelope. I went to Evanston, WY to have my Bison Burger and steak fries and the jerks have discontinued it. That just isn't right. So I left Evanston and went to Twin Falls, Idaho and spent the night. This morning I headed to Boise to run a couple of errands and to have lunch with John Lightner. John and I worked together when we were in the USAF. I got all of my errands done and John and I had a great visit. Tonight I met with Rosemary Zimbleman and we had a nice visit. She drove around and showed me some of the new sites in Boise. Namely Julia Davis Park and Ann Morrison Park and Albertson's Park. The Albertson's Park is new since I lived here. The growth that had come to this area is amazing. The estimated population in 2020 was 240,000. When I lived here it was 75,000. That is amazing. This afternoon, I figured out how to get the picture

  June 5, 2021 Day 3 finds me in Sidney, Nebraska. This morning before I left Dodge City, KS I took some pictures of a Baldwin Steam Locomotive. If I can figure out how to post them, I will. The locomotive was built in 1903 so it is an oil burner rather than coal or wood. Looking at the cab, it was primitive. There were steam radiators on the floor under the 3 chairs which were all solid metal with out any pads. Ouch. Somewhere in western Kansas I saw a hawk. It was marked similar to a Bald Eagle. But it was not big enough and the head was dark, but the last couple inches of the tail were white or very light colored. BTW, skunks smell good compared to the cattle feeding lots I passed. Fresh country air is anything but. Sidney has a contingent of Canada Geese. We do not have them in TX and that is okay but I miss watching them raise their young. In checking the range of the pronghorn antelope, I am not sure that was an antelope yesterday. I could not

  June 4, 2021 Day 2 of the Western trip was uneventful and that is good. I saw 3 different types of hawks, but not well enough to identify them. Tonight I am in Dodge City Kansas and tomorrow I will head north and west towards Billings, Montana. But that is too far for one day so I will spend the night in Cheyenne, WY. I saw some road kill today I had never seen, a bobcat, on I-40 east of Woodward, OK. I also saw a pronghorn antelope that was not quick enough. I stopped at an Indian Trading Post (read tourist trap) looking for Indian moccasins. They were made in the Dominican Republic. Guess who still needs new house slippers. But in talking with the lady, she has had a bobcat that is killing her chickens and ducks. She had a picture of it sitting in her driveway. It has been eating very well! It was fat. It was a very pretty animal and had stripes on the back of its front legs that reminded one of a tiger. It was a big bobcat but not that big. Tonight I a

  I reformatted this so it makes sense, I hope.  This is Day 1 I am finally on my way west. I left home around noon today. I saw some of my neighbors before I even made it to the highway and one new neighbor. The old was the road runner and the redtail hawk and the new one is a Brahman bovine of some type. They are a unique looking cow. Brahman bovine of some type. I stopped in Paris, TX for about an hour. I was looking at lift chairs that will stand me up from a reclining position. I liked the chair but the price is ridiculous. Hopefully I can convince the VA or Medicare to pay for it. Once in OK, I was going north on US 271 and on my side of the road was Christmas tree all decorated. There were no signs, just the tree. The speed limit was 75, so no pictures. Tonight I am in Shawnee, OK at a Days Inn Tomorrow Dodge City Kansas

  I am finally on my way west. I left home around noon today. I saw some of my Brahman bovine of some type. They are a unique looking cow. neighbors before I even made it to the highway and one new neighbor. The old was the road runner and the redtail hawk and the new one is a I stopped in Paris, TX for about an hour. I was looking at lift chairs that will stand me or from a reclining position. I liked the chair but the price is ridiculous. Hopefully I can convince the VA or Medicare to pay for it. Once in OK, I was going north on US 271 and on my side of the road was Christmas tree all decorated. There were no signs, just the tree. The speed limit was 75, so no pictures. Tonight I am in Shawnee, OK at a Days Inn Tomorrow Dodge City Kansas