148.9/23 Familiar Flowers of Summer - by Jean

Queen Anne’s Lace, Daucus carota,
roadside rest,
Ontario Province, Canada

One of the loveliest sights of summer is dainty Queen Anne’s Lace or wild carrot, Daucus carota in grassy places and along roadsides. A native of Europe, it grows in every State of the U.S.A. Long in cultivation, the carrots we eat are the root of the same plant, var. sativa.

Queen Anne’s Lace, Daucus carota,
Acadia National Park, Maine

The flower umbels mature into an interesting ball of bristly seeds.

Ox-eye Daisy, Chrysanthemum leucanthemum
(now Leucanthemum vulgare),
visited by hover-fly
Acadia National Park, Maine

The Ox-eye Daisy from Europe and Asia is found in all 48 states in open, moist places. Each white petal or ‘ray flower’ and each yellow ‘disc flower’ matures into a single seed. No wonder the daisy is so common!

Chicory, Cichorium intybus,
Ann Arbor, Michigan

A beautiful sky blue, chicory flowers are seen along roadsides and in vacant lots in the morning or on cloudy days. Once the sun is full, the flowers close for the day and the tough, weedy stems are scarcely noticeable. Another vagabond from Europe, it has spread throughout the United States. The root is roasted and ground and used as a coffee substitute, or to add a different, more bitter flavor to real coffee as savored in New Orleans and other francophile places.

Common Sunflower, Helianthus annuus,
at Scotts Bluff, Nebraska

The rank, weedy sunflower which brightens roadsides and fences in late summer is difficult to reconcile with the enormous cultivated sunflowers on stout stems that are grown for their seed and for floral bouquets, yet it is the same species. An American native, one of the earliest examples of its domestication is from the Hayes site in Tennessee dating back to around 2300 B.C. Another find from the Olmec site of San Andrés, Mexico dates to some time before 2100 B.C. (source: Wikepedia). Farmers grow the plants for the seed which is pressed for cooking oil or to produce biodiesel fuel, or added to bird seed mixes. The seeds are roasted into tasty snack morsels, and when hulled, added to salads and breads as a nutritious and flavorful supplement.

Tractor vs. Sunflower — Sunflower Wins!
Helianthus annuus,
Forest City, Iowa

In this member of the Asteraceae, formerly known as Compositae, only the central brown florets each form a single seed in a dry coat; the outer yellow ray flowers are sterile.

Goldenrod and White Aster,
Kaslow Prairie, Iowa

It’s mid-September and the Asteraceae family is at its most conspicuous.

Some 20 species of Goldenrod, Solidago sp., with tiny brilliant yellow flowers, bloom in prairies and edges of fields and creeks all over the United States. Formerly shunned because falsely believed to be allergenic, (Ragweed is the real culprit), they are finding a place in ornamental horticulture.

White Aster, Aster ericoides appears slender and dainty among tall green grasses, or as a low white mass in the dry, short-grass prairie of Nebraska. Growing from the east coast across two-thirds of the United States, I began to recognize it in bud in mid-August in Acadia National Park, Maine.

New England Aster, Aster novae-angliae,
Gering Arboretum, Nebraska

New England Aster is a stout 3 to 6 foot perennial with purple “daisy” flowers that is found in nearly all of the United States. Many shorter compact varieties have been developed for horticultural use with colors varying from pink to dark purple. Some were just opening in the U.S. Botanical Garden in Washington D.C. in early August.

Common Mullein, Verbascum thapsus,
Estes Park, Colorado

Not all late summer flowers are daisies. Wooly gray leaf rosettes on the ground (the first year) or 2 to 4 ft. tall stems (the second year) in barren places will call your attention to common mullein. This native of Europe and North Africa grows in all of our United States, and early assumed a role as an herbal remedy, the leaves being smoked by Indians. Teas prepared from the leaves, carefully filtered to eliminate the irritating hairs, seem to be helpful in pulmonary diseases.

Common Mullein, Verbascum thapsus,
Estes Park, Colorado

The yellow flowers peep out of wooly pale green sepals on the stout stems, and are pollinated by bees. The capsules of this member of the Snapdragon family turn brown, split and shed their tiny seeds and the whole plant becomes a dry, dead stick.

Butter and Eggs, Linaria vulgaris,
Acadia National Park, Maine

It’s a delight to spot a cluster of Butter and Eggs. I have photographed this lovely flower from Maine to California: in Ann Arbor, MI, the Tetons and Yellowstone, WY, Grand Coulee and Mount St. Helens, WA. It photographs best from below, so expect bruised elbows from the prostrate position in gravelly ground. The snapdragon-like flowers seem too pretty to be a weed that came to us from the Mediterranean region.

F.Y.I.

Search the name of any native plant in your favorite browser. An amazing amount of information is available. Look for “PLANTS Profile for (Latin name), (common name)” from //www.plants.usda.gov to see photos and a distribution map. Wikepedia references provide uses and history. [For fun, Google “Plants, Pawek” and “Pawekiae”]

145.9/20 A Lighthouse on the Oregon Trail

Through the windshield—
Chimney Rock from about 30 miles away

The Mormon Trail, Oregon Trail, and California Trail following the North Platte River from the Missouri River passed by one of the most famous landmarks along the Trail: Chimney Rock. Some half million westbound emigrants used it as a beacon during the three to four days it was in view, signaling to them that the second phase of their long journey west—the difficult mountain passage—was about to begin.

Hundreds wrote in their journals their impressions: Passed the chimney in the fore part of the day and the formation… has a tendency to fill the mind with awe and grandeur. Virgil K. Pringle, June 19, 1846.

Chimney Rock towers about 500 feet above the North Platte River. Because the spectacular tower marked a good camping spot with a dependable spring, many of the pioneers stopped nearby, described it with drawings, and carved their names in its base. Later it became the setting for the Pony Express, the telegraph, and a stage station.

Sunrise on the North Platte Valley

An old Mormon cemetery rests
at the base of Chimney Rock.

An old Mormon cemetery rests
at the base of Chimney Rock.

Mary lived for 74 years on two continents,
but did not live to see Zion (Utah).

The Mormon Trail, though side by side with the other Trails, was always separate, because the Mormons kept to themselves for fear of acts of violence against them.

At 6:48 a.m.,
the first rays of dawn light up Chimney Rock.

As the new day begins,
the Rock welcomes the hosts of emigrants
passing that day headed for
the beautiful, but rugged mountains of Wyoming.

Chimney Rock at Sunset

The 800 foot high Scotts Bluff is 35 miles west
of Chimney Rock along the Oregon Trail.

Originally, the Oregon, California, and Mormon Trails circumvented the rugged badlands surrounding Scotts Bluff until the Army improved the Trail through Mitchell Pass in 1850. The Pass is just south of the Scotts Bluff and it shortened the wagon train’s journey by a day.

Sunset over Scotts Bluff

140.9/15 The Little Brown Church in the Vale

Iowa Corn Fields

As we angled across Iowa on our way to Winnebago Industries in Forest City, we passed through miles and miles of fields of tall corn.

Entering Chickasaw County, we made a brief detour through Nashua to The Little Brown Church with the Old Bradford Pioneer Village next door.

The Little Brown Church in the Vale

Dedicated 1864

The Little Brown Church has an interesting history. In June 1857, William Pitts, a young music teacher was traveling to nearby Fredericksburg to visit his bride-to-be. When the stagecoach took a noon rest at Bradford, Mr. Pitts was moved by the lovely setting among large oak trees. On his return home to southern Wisconsin, remembering his vision, he wrote The Little Brown Church in the Vale.

As It Must Have Looked

When Mr. Pitts returned to teach music at Bradford Academy, he was amazed to find a small church being erected across the road at the very spot he had visualized in his hymn. On dedication day in 1864 his vocal class gave the hymn its first public rendition. The church and the song became forever linked.

Mr. Pitts sold the song to a Chicago publisher for $25.00 and used the money to help earn a medical degree, then returned to Fredericksburg and set up practice.

Office of Dr. Wm. S. Pitts
Fredericksburg, Iowa

His office building is preserved in the Old Bradford Pioneer Village. The little community of Bradford, once a thriving village along the wagon trail west, had gradually disappeared when the railroad by-passed it for Fredericksburg.

Dr. Pitt’s Office

The Chickasaw County Historical Society has saved cottages, log cabins, a country school, general store and the first Fredericksburg railroad depot. Each of the 15 buildings is furnished appropriately. A barn is full of old agricultural equipment and one of the houses displays a collection of children’s toys.

Log Cabin Interior

Cast Iron Stove

Buffalo Skin Coat
Bill’s grandfather Henry Field,
seedsman wore one.

Early Washing Machine

Wall Phone and Telephone Switchboard
“Mrs. Brown this is an emergency call,
please get off the line!”

Iowa Tall Corn

We enjoyed remembering the old days, a pleasant break from tall corn fields.

The Little Brown Church ..in the Vale..

135.9/10 Our Eleven Room Mansion

Our Home Away from Home

Some wonder how Jean and I manage for such a long period in such a small house; after all, though Jean is rather petite, I am rather gargantuan. At a first glance such close proximity for 161 days (23 weeks) seems impossible, especially when you consider the places we have been that discourage enjoying the great outdoors: very hot and humid jungle weather, flies and hornets wanting a share of our food, mosquitoes that want to make us their food, cold wind and rain that dampen your enthusiasm, etc. It is more than just the fact we have been “keeping company” since 1945 and, shall I say, been in close contact for over 59 years.

The Mystery Is Exposed

The simple fact is: the Dream Machine is larger on the inside than it is on the outside! “How can that be?” you ask incredulously. It’s all a matter of dimensions. I will try to explain it in terms any 6 year old (computer whiz) could understand.

Consider an ordinary box: if you were a member of the “Flatlanders” race who know only two dimensions, you would only see a rectangle. And you would be amazed at all the goodies that can be put into that rectangle as the box is filled with Black Forest cakes, Mrs. Fields Chocolate Chip cookies, and half gallons of Hagen Däz Triple Chocolate ice cream. (I’m sorry, my mind wandered a bite.)

I know you are jumping ahead of me in this logical argument: we “Solids” (some more than others) know only three dimensions and so see the box that can just hold 12 half gallons of Hagen Däz Triple Chocolate ice cream on the bottom layer, 6 dozen Mrs. Fields Chocolate Chip cookies in the middle layer, and 6 Black Forest cakes on the top layer as full. We think it’s a magic trick when someone comes along and adds 48 Big Mac hamburgers and an equal number of large fries without disturbing the original contents. Welcome to the fourth dimension!

I am sure you all are familiar with the British science programme that features the Time Lord, Dr. Who. Well, Dr. Who’s main conveyance is a Tardis: on the outside it looks like a 30” by 30” by 6’ blue English police box (like one of our formerly ubiquitous phone booths), but as you enter the door you find a large control room about 30’ by 30’ by 20’ high and when you go down the stairs you find all the other necessary rooms needed to travel through space and time. Normally there are just three people traveling together, but on occasion, there have been hundreds.

The Exterior

The Dream Machine embodies the
mysteries of the fourth dimension.
In origin, it is a 1995 Winnebago Rialta.

Now that you understand and are a believer, I will introduce you, illustrated by real photographs, to our little Dream Machine. I won’t go into much detail about the exterior as most people have little trouble understanding that part. The vehicle is 20’–6” long by 7’–4” wide by 8’–3” high to the top of the air conditioner and weighs about 7,000 lb. It is built by Winnebago Ind. on a Volkswagen chassis and powered by a 2.5 liter, fuel injected, five cylinder Audi-Volkswagen gasoline engine. Normally we expect a range of 300 miles at from 15 to 17 miles per gallon, depending on conditions.

Standard equipment includes the afore mentioned 110 V air conditioner, a 2.5 KW generator, microwave, hot water heater, TV antenna, 1.1 cu ft refrigerator, built-in tanks to hold propane, a week’s worth of fresh water, gray water and black water, a large RV type battery, to which I have added two more making a total of three house batteries. It is painted white with purple decals and has a low streamlined, rounded shape.

The Interior

As you step into the high-ceilinged Entryway, you confronted with several directions in which to turn. We will start by entering the left-hand wing (toward the rear).

The small Workbench provides
a convenient place
to lay out camera equipment.

First you find yourself at a small, well lighted, both by natural light and a fluorescent fixture, Workshop where I work on cameras and other equipment while seated comfortably.

The Research Area is a convenient place
to lay out maps, brochures, and the like.

Next, especially when the recreation and office room is busy, I study manuals and guide books, etc. in the Research & Study Area which is conveniently located within reach of the library and reference shelves.

The Bedroom with its linen storage
is inviting after a hard day of play.

That leads us to one of the more important rooms in the house: the decorously softly lit Bedroom with its picture window and convenient adjacent wardrobe and dressing area, contains a full-size bed with a sumptuous, thick, comfortable mattress with a 2” deep pillow top add-on and royal red and gold bedspread. It also has a reading light for pursuing that novel you can’t wait to finish.

Our mini Meditation Center
provides us with a corner
where we can pray, read, & meditate together.

We have created a Meditation Center that includes a shelf of spiritual reading books to add to the reference books found on rear shelves (larger books, maps, and other stationary supplies are in the main storage area). Note the convenient thermostat for the gas furnace.

This Pantry Closet holds some of the larger items
such as bread and juices.
Fresh fruit and smaller canned goods
are found in auxiliary pantry drawers in the kitchen.

Finally this wing contains a convenient Pantry Closet and bread store only a few steps from the kitchen. The pantry was reincarnated from the manufacture’s original equipment shirt closet. (Our regular clothes closet is big enough to hold all our hang-up clothes, shoes, including hiking boots, all the camera equipment, and spare medicines and toiletries plus a laundry bin below.)

For complete privacy or for taking a shower,
the Bathroom walls slide forward to double its size.
When not in use, the large basin tips up.

Returning to the Entryway, we find a convenient Bathroom with all the usual amenities: medicine cabinet with mirror, large basin, counter top, toilet, and a hand shower with a sunken floor. Hot water is provided by the water heater that is heated either by the engine when driving or 110V electricity.

The convenient Kitchen
provides us with 80 to 90% of our meals.

Back at the Entryway, we now turn toward the right-hand wing (forward end). The first thing we notice is the high ceilinged skylighted Atrium in the middle of several rooms. On our left is an efficient Kitchen with a two burner stove, sink, counter space, refrigerator, auxiliary pantry, and two open trays for fresh fruit, wine, etc. There is also a dish cupboard, silverware drawer, and dry goods cupboard; the microwave cupboard has been morphed into a pots and pan cupboard.

The large Dining Room table allows plenty of room
for the simple meals we prefer.
The Engine Room contains the usual driving equipment,
music system, our GPS Navigator, Millie, etc

Straight ahead is the spare chair for a guest who might visit and beyond that is the curtained-off Engine Room from which the vehicle is driven.

On your right from the Atrium area is the highly appreciated and convenient Dining Room. Because we often camp far from towns in Forest Service campgrounds, we often use canned or dehydrated foods. Since we have only three chairs, the large formica topped table can only be used by three people at time. We very seldom eat out because at every thing is so convenient, although traditionally, we enjoy KFC chicken on Saturday nights.

We spend a lot of time in the Recreation Room & Office.

When chores are done we retire to our Recreation Room and Office, where I might indulge in watching a movie on my laptop or Jean may accept the challenge of a jigsaw puzzle. We may read or compose serious blogs. Jean can satisfy her curiosity by identifying the flowers (taxonomic determination) seen and photographed that day, or I might work on creating a masterpiece from a vista photographed that day.

Did I mention that most rooms in the house are very conveniently located only a few steps from each other. The home is so spacious that we seem to be able to keep out of one another's hair most of the time; though with so many rooms it is tiring just to think of going from one end to the other end of the house.

And so, you have seen our little Home Away from Home.

131.9/06 Jus’ Lookin’ for a Home

[Photos and text mostly by Jean; adjustment of pictures and formating by Bill]

We carry AAA CampBooks which list a few of the better (and more expensive) campgrounds. At every State border, we stop at their Welcome Center and pick up campground and state park literature.

On Saturday night, we need laundry and showers, a dump station, and a Catholic Church nearby. Planning ahead is required and Bill usually phones for a reservation at a commercial campground, such as KOA. Many offer WiFi service.

COMMERCIAL CAMPGROUNDS

KOA, Page, Arizona
Disappointingly, No WiFi

Camp Loma Paloma,
at the edge Big Bend Rancho State Park

Camping Jumeau,
south of Ville de Québec, Canada

TRUCK STOPS allow free parking, but sometimes it is very noisy with trucks passing by, or those parked with refrigerator units going on and off, or the loudspeaker announcing “Your shower is now ready!” We have a membership card to Flying J which gives 1¢ a gallon discount. Their booklet lists all of their locations; usually just off major freeways at the outer edge of town. Besides facilities for truck drivers, they have a restaurant and gift shop (handy for postcards and the refrigerator magnets we are collecting), and are open 24 hours.

Flying J, London, Ontario Province, Canada
Stop drooling: the prices are per liter,
making it around $4 per gallon in Canada.

WAL*MART

Wal*Mart stores sell a Rand McNally U.S. Road Atlas that shows the location of all of their stores, listed by State giving their status and address. Most large towns have one on the outskirts, just off a freeway. They allow RV’s to park on the premises, off in a far corner of their enormous parking lots. Super Wal*Marts are usually open 24 hours, handy for grocery shopping and bathroom access. We find them very convenient when it is raining and driving is difficult. An occasional bonus is WiFi from an adjacent large motel. We found a few towns, such as in New Mexico, which post a city ordinance prohibiting overnight stays.

Wal*Mart, Carroll, Iowa,
next door to train depot

Wal*Mart, Kearney, Nebraska.
In the far corner of their parking lot,
we could access WiFi from
Quality Suites motel across the street.

FRIENDS This trip was so long that we needed a few mail drops on the way which were pre-arranged: (1) cousin Bill & Nancy McPhee, Phoenix AZ. (2) Ann Saxton, San Antonio, TX. (3) David & Arceli Suley, Washington DC, who were our neighbors for 3 years at Marymount, Mzuzu, Malawi. Our expected stop of 3–4 days turned into 8 when Bill required a root canal, antibiotic regime and subsequent root cap—a big inconvenience for all of us. (4) Phil & Elaine Alexander, Ann Arbor, Michigan who were Army neighbors in Toole, Utah in 1955.

Fr. Pierre LeClerc & Bill
in front of White Father’s Provincial house,
Montreal, Canada.

Phil & Elaine Alexander, Ann Arbor, Michigan
They live at the end of a long drive
on a beautifully landscaped small estate
surrounded by thick woods. (Bill says, "Jungle.")

And they turned the tables on us as we left,
taking our photo and
sending it to us by e-mail.

WINNEBAGO INDUSTRIES, FOREST CITY, IOWA

The Dream Machine
returned to its place of birth
for some technical assistance.

As drop-in customers for minor repairs at the Winnebago Industries factory, we were given a free parking site with electricity next door to Customer Service until our turn arrived and we were taken care of: getting the roof and skylight caulked, toilet resealed, bolts tightened, etc. (arriving Sunday September 9th and leaving on Saturday, September 15th.

STATE and NATIONAL PARKS

Government Parks are very attractive with spacious grounds and trails (where Jean can find plants) (Bill says, "Commune with the flora"), restrooms, often with showers, dump station, and choice of hook-ups or no services sites. They usually cost less than commercial camp grounds. We stayed at those fairly near to a major highway.

Stephen F. Austin State Park,
near San Felipe, Texas on the Brazos River

Hidden in thick scrub oak at
Anastasia State Park, St. Augustine, Florida

Lake Ogallala State Park, Nebraska

Chisos Campground,
Big Bend National Park, Texas

STATISTICS

Camping days to date: 147, paid 94 days ($1,777)
Max paid $40.28 (Canada), free days 53
Over all average: $12/day,
average for paid campgrounds: $19/day.