Who We Are

We sold our home in June, 2007, and spent the next 7 1/2 years traveling full time in a Cross Roads Fifth Wheel. (We had been traveling during our summers for several years before going full time.) We loved the full-time lifestyle! Each summer we spent a month or two volunteering in State Parks, first in Indiana at McCormick's Creek State Park, near our family, then in later years as the grandchildren got older, at the Bluewater Lake State Park in New Mexico. We spent 6 months each winter at Cactus Gardens RV Resort in Yuma, AZ, where I worked mornings in the park office. The remaining months were spent on the road, seeing this great country of ours. Our favorite places are our National Parks. Anita loved photography and the freedom of digital photography, taking sometimes hundreds of photos in a day. We hiked as much as our legs will allow. We also really enjoyed square and round dancing as we travel across country, and meeting all the wonderful people who dance and/or travel.

But as in all things, there comes a time for change, and we decided it was time to create roots once more. In the fall of 2014, we purchased a home in Cactus Gardens, and in the spring of 2015, sold the 5th wheel. Anita also retired in the spring. We will continue to travel each summer, but for a shorter period of time. We hope to continue blogging about those trips, but it will obviously be on a more limited basis than in the past.

Please explore our past posts if you are interested in traveling this great country. You'll find an index in the left column. We hope you enjoy our blog, and appreciate all comments

Thursday, July 4, 2013

Rail Haven Route 66 Motel

We found an interesting place to stay overnight on our trip home in Springfield, Missouri. 

IMG_1888The Rail Haven Route 66 Motel, now a Best Western, is a little off the beaten path of the interstate, but once was located on a very busy road, Route 66.

The Motel was built in 1937, and much of it still looks the same.  The rooms are all located in the traditional “longhouse” style of older motels.  Inside, the rooms are small, the beds are full size instead of queen or king, and the bathroom fixtures are older, but all is very clean and well kept.

This photo collage was hanging in our room, showing how the facility and grounds looked in 1937 and after an update in 1950.

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IMG_1890Elvis stayed here in 1956, according to the marquee. IMG_1891

Vintage autos are parked out front, and the original gas pumps still stand by the front door.

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2013-07-01 Route 66 Motel bIf you’re curious about the black can holder showing in most of the above photos, our nephew owns Red Oak Designs in Lexington, KY and features photos of the can holders in various locations on the company Facebook page, and we thought this was the ideal place for some photos for him.

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