Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore, IN

Another less eventful, but long day of driving brought us to the southern shore of Lake Michigan. Who knew they actually had a beach, certainly not I or I would have packed the beach towels and umbrella.

The waitress we had at lunch told us about the area so we added it to our list and stopped for a few days.

The Indiana Dunes National Seashore stretches along the southern shore of Lake Michigan. On the eastern end we visited a shifting sand dune, Mt. Baldy. It has always moved south with the wind and waves, but people climbing on it have caused it to shift at an alarming pace southward, hence the fence!

The park includes many acres of timberland as well as marshes and bogs created by glaciers. Due to an abundance of mosquitos after recent heavy rains, we chose not to hike the bog trail through the woods. The Calumet Bike Trail runs 12 miles through the park but our bikes were not operating at the moment.

At the western end we stopped at some more dunes at West Beach.

We took the Dune Succession Trail that follows a boardwalk up the side of the dune which is much easier than struggling in the sand. 250 steps later we arrived at the top.

The national lakeshore surrounds a state park but we chose not to pay $10 to look at it. There is also a section within the boundaries that is includes a steel mill and boat harbor.

We did enjoy a short hike to the Bailly homestead. Joseph Bailly, a fur trapper, arrived in 1822 with his family and set up a trading post. There are several log buildings on the property where he housed his furs.

The house has been restored to look as it did in 1917.

Less than a mile away is the Chellberg Farm, restored to how it might have looked in the late 1800s.

We spent 3 hot days and nights at the national lakeshore but we knew we might not come this way again. Most of our days were spent in and out of air conditioning. Boy are we spoiled!

The Dunes Campground was full over the weekend and most people were in tents. We felt very fortunate to have fans! We had a really nice spot nestled under the maples, oaks and sassafras.

Rend Lake, IL

We left Hot Springs and headed toward Michigan. We went through Missouri and crossed the mighty Mississip into Illinois. It did not feel any cooler there and just as humid.

Just about ten miles from our destination someone flagged us and told us something about the bikes that were on the back of the 5th wheel. We took the nearby exit only to learn that the bikes were no longer on the rear bumper but in the middle of I 57. We unhooked the 5th wheel in a KFC parking lot and headed south again. It was about 100 in the shade. We were sure hoping there would not be a four car pileup with our bikes underneath, but someone had kindly dragged them to the side of the road. I volunteered to document the event while Leon untangled the bikes, still locked onto the rack. And the bike rack was still attached to the trailer hitch receiver with the no longer welded plate attached! They now ride where we used to eat breakfast.

We eventually found our way to South Sandusky campground on Rend Lake near Benton, Illinois.

This is a nice Corps of Engineers Campground with plenty of camping spots. There were lots of folks there, even in this heat, many of whom were playing in the lake. Thank goodness we didn't have a boat attached to the rear bumper of the 5th wheel as we often see!!!

Too hot for us!

It is beginning to look like Arkansas will pass all previous records for the hottest summer. It is time to go north. Michigan appears to be cooler and we haven't spent much time there .... YET!!

Vegas to Hot Springs

After leaving Las Vegas Saturday morning we arrived in Tucson just as the sun set. Easter morning Leon and I watched this hot air balloon rise while out walking the neighborhood with our coffee. (Look for the little yellow ball!)

Noah came out and showed me around the yard. He does love to climb but I guess most 13 year olds do.

Soon Noah assured us there would be pancakes with chocolate chips.

Carlos plugged in the griddle and the production began. It was well worth taking the southern route and an extra 200 miles to have another visit and more pancakes with this family. Afterall, we had to pick up another sack of popcorn for the trip home. Ah, to have a popcorn machine!

As we passed Las Cruces, New Mexico we saw this large road runner defending the town. We did not see him soon enough to exit into the rest area where he resides.

In Ft. Hancock, Texas we stopped for gas and spotted a not too fancy little cinder block building named Margie’s. A restaurant open on Easter Sunday with a chicken fried steak specialty! We decided to take a chance. Fancy it wasn’t, but delicious and homey indeed.
There we got the inside scoop on the Mexican drug wars just across the border and decided to go two miles further to have a close up look at THE fence. The sheriff’s deputies advised us to go further east before we stopped for the night in a roadside park. No problem!

One night in Van Horn and another in Greenville, Texas and we completed the 5,025 mile holiday. We really enjoyed Arizona this time of the year but until the next trip you can find us at the dead end!  Jiggety jog!

Viva, Las Vegas

The intent of this trip was not to spend time on the strip and in the casinos but to visit with Leon’s family and get to know other parts of Vegas. But one cannot ignore the glitz and neon lights completely. The Strip is actually four miles along Las Vegas Boulevard where the most popular casinos line the sides of the street and the neon lights light up the night sky, while the throngs of tourists look like an army of fire ants whose hill has been disturbed. So we joined the ants! At the Rio we saw the Show in the Sky, one of the freebies that we had not seen.

There is a large stage, lightly clad dancers, and three “vessels” that float around the room on rails on the ceiling. They even throw a few Mardi Gras beads. It is not at the top of my list of shows to see but it's free!

Then it was a time for an ice cream fix. We immediately thought of St. Mark’s Square in the Venetian. We got our gelato, cholesterol and fat free of course!

Then we just sat in the plaza and watched the crowds before wandering over to the canal to watch the boats with singers poles by.

We intended to visit New York New York but we just ran out of time.

It was great having all the space at the Elks’ Lodge to ourselves most of the time.

The unexpected entertainment was the sirens we kept hearing as emergency vehicles passed by from the next door fire station.

This was the last planned stop on our trip so it is now time to head to the house.

Liberace Museum, Las Vegas, NV

Before the famous, flamboyant pianist Liberace died in 1987 he had set up a foundation and museum in the town where he performed for 42 years.

Several of his many cars are displayed here. This rhinestone roadster was customized in the style of a Duesenberg and adorned with thousands of rhinestones to match one of his outfits and his Rhinestone Baldwin Grand Piano. The piano was used in the finale of his performance in Radio City Music Hall in 1986.

The 1957 English taxicab he bought in England and restored. He would sometimes pick up his friends at the Palm Springs, California airport in this taxi.

There was also a room full of pianos. This @1900 Steinway was painted blue and gold to match an outfit he wore when he performed. He often used it at the Las Vegas Hilton.

Due to all the beadwork, his Neptune costume weighed 200 pounds. His shoes had heels that helped balance the weight of his cape.

And then there are the pink ostrich feathers!

Leon was even in awe of his costumes.

The toreodore outfit was one of my favorites.

He was the king of bling in the 1950s to 80s and when asked once how he played with all those rings on his fingers his reply was “Very well, thank you!”

Now where is my bling.

His Las Vegas mansion was filled with this furniture. A bit gaudy in my opinion. This was a fascinating tour!

Stratosphere, Las Vegas, NV

The stratosphere, which looms high above Las Vegas, is the tallest free standing building in Nevada and the tallest building west of the Mississippi.

Leon’s grandsons, Blade and Gunnar, accompanied us and made this adventure special.

The observation decks are nearly 1,000 feet above the ground and the views are amazing. Mt. Charleston in the distance is over 11,000 feet high.

Las Vegas Boulevard, the strip, was busy below.

We could barely see the people in and around the pool, but trust me, they were there.


Three rides atop the tower are for the real thrill seekers. The Big Shot shoots riders straight up into the air high above the tower.  We could hear their screams.

The X-scream is like a giant see-saw that plunges the riders out over the edge of the tower in a downward motion. It made me nervous just to watch.

Our guys were not insane this day and did not ride. Afterall, they had just eaten lunch. The insanity spins the riders out over the edge of the tower.

It is always a pleasure to spend time with Gunnar and Blade. They are such nice young men. Today was special!