Monday, May 31, 2010

Catching Up With More Road Stories...

First...from John & Mary, in Rawlins, Wyoming...
A Little Background on Our Piece of Wyoming's History...

The eighty year history of Wyoming’s first state penitentiary, now known as the Wyoming Frontier Prison, is as colorful and elaborate as the plot of a classic western movie. The cornerstone of the prison was laid in 1888, but due to funding issues and Wyoming’s notorious weather, the doors wouldn’t open for thirteen years. In December of 1901, the prison opened and consisted of only 104 cells (Cell Block A), no electricity or running water, and very inadequate heating.

Throughout the prison’s operation, approximately 13,500 people were incarcerated, including eleven women. Overcrowding was an almost constant concern, and the first of several additions to the penitentiary was completed in 1904, adding 32 cells to the west end of the original cell block (Cell Block A). Women were only housed in the prison until 1909, when the last woman was transferred to Colorado, and for the rest of the Prison’s operation, it would house only the lawless men of Wyoming. The addition of the second cell block (Cell Block B) in 1950 temporarily relieved the overcrowding, and also included solitary confinement cells, a much more efficient heating system, and hot running water which wouldn’t be installed in the original cell block for another twenty-eight years. A maximum security addition (Cell Block C) was completed in 1966, but the addition only included thirty-six cells and was reserved for serious discipline cases.

The prison was equipped with several different means of disciplining inmates throughout its operation, including a dungeon, several variations of solitary confinement and a “punishment pole” to which men were handcuffed, and whipped with rubber hoses; this method was practiced legally until 1930.

The prison also used different execution methods throughout the operation. The first two executions were carried out using the “traveling” Julien Gallows which were used to hang Tom Horn in Cheyenne in 1903. In 1916, the penitentiary completed the addition of a “death house” which consisted of eight cells to house inmates on death row, and a unique indoor version of the Julien Gallows. The building also housed the gas chamber when it was chosen to replace hanging as Wyoming’s execution method of choice in 1936. Ultimately 14 death sentences were carried out; nine men were hanged, and five were executed in the gas chamber by the use of hydrocyanic acid gas.

Here’s a picture of Mary sitting in the gas chamber.

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This next is from Jon & Donna.....

Hi All,

Well, we've been on the road for about 4 weeks now and I have been exceedingly lazy and have procrastinated as long as Donna will let me in writing a bit about where we've been and what we've seen. When we left on this year's sojourn, we stopped for our first night in a picnic area overlooking the confluence of the Pecos and Rio Grande Rivers.

We stayed there last year as well and just enjoyed the ambiance peace of our dry-camp evening. From there we headed to Deming, NM - almost got blown away as the winds hit upwards of 70 mph and they closed the Interstate for miles.

Spent a very windy night in the local Walmart. The next night found us in the Phoenix area where we stayed in the Sun Life (55+) RV Park. We spent the next couple of weeks visiting friends and ordering/installing a new set of tires on the motor home (it also got a front end alignment and a few other miscellaneous fixes like restitching an awning frayed in those winds). Our stay there was not totally without some unplanned moments - we ended up spending a night at the front end place as they could not get the front axle (all 1200 pounds of it!) to drop free of the frame. Oh yeah, and one of the new tires experienced a rim leak so we got to stay at a Walmart too.

Anyway, back on the road and we headed to California. First stop - San Diego!!!!

Cool and windy but enjoyed seeing the sights and dining in the Gas Lamp District. Also checked out the beaches and all of the local college kids playing sand volleyball - the wind and cold didn't bother them any!

On to Desert Palm Springs (Caliente Springs RV Park) where the temperatures were warm and the winds were still strong - rocked the motor home right well both day and night for the 4 days we spent there. I played water volleyball every day (even ran into some friends we had met elsewhere - Stan and Margo - who we didn't even know would be in that area).

Donna and I did some sightseeing - hundreds and hundreds of windmills generating power, also visited a Date Farm (the kind you eat). Sampled lots of dates and bought several varieties to snack on in the coming weeks. Did I mention it was windy?

Leaving there we moved on to the Morro Bay area where we braved the wind and cool temperatures (down in the very low 40's at night) to explore the coast and visit the Hearst Castle. Once an 80,000 acre ranch and estate with 4 guest homes and a main house, William Randolph Hearst spent about 10 million dollars creating the buildings and landscaping and then another 3 million in rare antiques and collectibles to furnish them all. All of this was done between 1919 and 1947 - no one can estimate the total value of it now. He donated it to the State of California around 1950 to create a state park so all could see and enjoy.
150 miles up the coast took us to our next stop - Monterey. Beautiful coastal city with Cannery Row and the Fisherman's Wharf. Back in the 40's this was a major city for the catching and canning of sardines until over fishing and the natural cycle decimated the fish and the canneries all closed. Now it is a great shopping and dining spot - best clam chowder since Boston. Have I mentioned wind and cool temperatures?

Next is Frisco and northward......

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From Vickie & Bob....

On our last visit to see Sandpipers' friends we stopped in London Ontario Canada to visit Mike and Ursula who used to live on the 400 road.

Both are doing great and we had spaghetti for lunch. Ursula and Mike wanted us to stay, but our grandson was waiting for us, seems Mommy was reading him our Facebook updates and he knew we were close. We had to drive by our summer home and saw Cooper Burt at 8:30. Daddy and Mommy offered us their camper for the night, but we were only 15 minutes away from home. After 17 days of traveling in the truck and 4,900 miles, we wanted to sleep in our own bed. We were home by 10:30, turned on the power, used the outhouse (turned on the water the next day, made the bed and fell asleep. After 4,900 miles, we have finally returned to Empire Haven.

While unpacking I found this Texas shaped potholder that I spotted in a thrift store in Montana, what was it doing there?????? It had to be returned to Texas or stay in a Texan's home. I just hung it on a knob and left it there.

Vicki and Bob
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From Bruce & Theresa..


Bruce and I are still traveling in S. Texas and finding interesting things we haven't seen before. This picture was taken west of 281 and
on FM1017. Have seen him more than once.

Sunday, May 30, 2010

Friday, May 28, 2010

More Road Stories...Jim & SueZ.

After a thorough tour of the Walmarts of Southern Colorado we set up on the banks of the Rio Grande (Yes! THAT Rio Grande) in South Fork.
This is the view outside our window. It was so cold there should have been ice on the river.
The deer weren't that picky about the cold.

Next stop was Mesa Verde where we learned about the Pueblo cultures of a thousand years ago...and saw evidence of the beetle infestation that is ravaging Colorado.Then a find!

In Vail...the Betty Ford Alpine Garden. It's just off I-70 and a must see.

Beautifully landscaped....Gorgeous flowers blooming...It is a real treat.

Finally...we hooked up at Toni & Paul's Deluxe RV Resort in Granby... where we were wined and dined and treated to outstanding views and fellowship...and wine...Did I mention the wine?
And the view?What a great place they have!!

Toni took us on an insider's tour of Granby, Grand Lake and the dam where Bob D. spent his misbegotten youth. Ask him about it.

And she showed us her pride and joy...the libraries of Granby & Grand Lake.

Note the plaque...

El Presidente!!!

We had a lovely time.

Next stop...son's house in Longmont.
Then it's off to points north.

Look out Mary & John...here we come, oh, in about a week.

Thursday, May 27, 2010

Before and...almost...After.

From Karen H.....
A picture of the work going on in the resort will show how much is being accomplished.
It is going to be beautiful but I wanted to get you pictures of the before
and then when the hard work is finished we will send you an after. Truly beautiful!
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Hey, Peeps....
All this summer I want to have stories and pictures sent to me so I can share your summer travels, adventures and recommendations to your fellow SandPeeps.
And, to that end, anyone who sends me blog-fodder will be entered into a contest drawing during the first FunBuzz of the next season.
Prize to be announced but it will be a doozy!
send your stories and/or pictures to zabrit@earthlink.net
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Additional from Karen H....

Ladies day is moved to next week.
We will still go to Kolaches, and meet at the pavilion 10:30 AM.
See you ladies next week.
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On Friday we are gathering at sundown to help weed the butterfly garden.
Bring some wine or drink of your choice and let's try to conquer the weed infestation.
Thank you Ladies.
Karen 403

Tuesday, May 25, 2010

Road Stories...Jim & SueZ, New Mexico

Guess what? This is the Rio Grande!
We discovered it while driving to Taos.
We shivered as the river rafters told us the water temp was as close to freezing as it could get without being ice.

We arrived in Taos on Sunday morning as bells were ringing for Sunday services at the mission style church near the main plaza.

We window shopped and walked and strolled and had a fine old time until it was time for brunch and a spicy bloody mary.and a glass of wine...

Do you notice how all our pictures have alcohol in them?
Then on to the Wild River N.R.A. where the Red River and the Rio Grande have carved out a mini Grande Canyon. Very dramatic! We camped, perched, right on the edge of the canyon.

Today we made it to Southern Colorado, to South Fork, where we are camped on the very edge of the Rio Grande river. Beautiful, no? However, they had a blizzard here this morning! And the wind!!! Holy toledo, never have we driven thru such horrible wind! Muy chilly!

In a few days we will drive up to see Toni & Paul on the edge of Rocky Mt. Nat'l Park...where the roads may still be closed due to snow!!!!

Monday, May 24, 2010

Road Trip Update...Bob & Vickie.

After leaving Avatan we visited Duane and Gerri in Wisconsin.
Duane and Bob went out on two road trips to find parts for Duane's Ford Tractor and Bob did a brake job on one side.
We had to try two different local resturants while we were there.

Then we went back to Minnesota again to visit Betty at her lake front home and watch the loons, ducks and a muskrat.

And had a lovely steak dinner.

From Minnesota we went back through Wisconsin again and dipped a bit into Minnesota again and finally headed east through Wisconsin for the last time to the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, then lower Michigan.

Minnesota 3 times,

Wisconsin 3 times,

Michigan 2 times.

Sunday, May 23, 2010

Sunflowers and Birthdays!

Jim & I are north of Santa Fe doing the Indian casino thing, and, surprisingly...we are ahead!
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Got this email from Theresa and I must say...
doesn't she look like a flower among the sunflowers?
Gorgeous!
Love the pic. of sunflowers, you must have had got on top of your motorhome for that one.
I have been doing the census on FM490 north and west of Edinburg
and there are all kinds of fields of them in case anyone would like to see them.
Bruce took this pic.
Couldn't get on top my car so this was the next best way.
It was kind of windy but it still turned out ok I thought. *****
I'm sorry we missed Gary's birthday...the BIG ONE!
The crowd gathered at The Republic of the Rio Grande for a rip roaring good time!

Delicious food....

Good friends...and Gary got what he really wanted!

Saturday, May 22, 2010

Road Stories...Jim & SueZ, On the Way to Alaska!

Just 80 miles north of Sandpipers, on 281, we ran into
dozens...
no hundreds...
no THOUSANDS...
of acres of bright smiling sunflowers!
Wow! How did I not know these fields are here?
What a heartwarming site.

We stopped in Bandera for our first night, at Pioneer River Resort.

Nice, clean, friendly...and wonderfully located on the edge of this cute cowboy town.

Great boots, hats and a killer "antique" mall.

Got myself a Stetson!And Jim bought himself something new. too.We all have our priorities.

Friday, May 21, 2010

Road Stories...Les & Janet, Alaska.

We made it to Alaska!

Six weeks, eight states, two Canadian provinces and 6,660 miles.

Les and Janet are spending four months in Alaska on the Kenai Peninsula fishing for halibut and salmon and digging for razor clams, biking and birding, sightseeing and watching whales and eagles, moose, bear, caribou and Dall sheep.
Just today we saw six moose right next to the road!
How great is that???

We are at Clam Gulch State Park where we are
learning about minus tides
and clamming
and practicing to catch some fish.
And near us we hiked to an area today where we were surrounded by more than 100 bald eagles on the Kenai river.

Come visit us this summer.
We'll be smoking the salmon and cleaning up a mess of clams for chowder.

The attached picture is from way up in front of the Sign Post Forest on the Alaska Highway outside of Watson Lake in the Yukon Territory.
There was a sign there for McAllen but we didn't find one from Edinburg.

Les and Janet
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Oh Boy! We are coming. Save me some smoked salmon!

Thursday, May 20, 2010

Road Stories...Mary & John, Wyoming.

Here is what we saw when we woke up on Wednesday the 12th of May
to be greeted by 6 inches of heavy white.
All the snow left within 36 hours.

Tonight, after dinner we had a group of visitors.

It was close to dusk and this is the best I could do.

Regards,

John & Mary

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Cool deer, John, but horrifying snow pics. I think I'd better find my gloves!

Wednesday, May 19, 2010

The Demise of "THAT" Plant.

Tuesday morning we had a rip roaring band of thunderstorms zip thru the valley.
The sky turned black, thunder boomed, lightening crackled.
And the Century plant went down.It was just starting to bloom.

But now it is but a memory!

Tuesday, May 18, 2010

Stories from the Road...Vicki & Bob.

It is great to read about all the adventures and visits
our Sandpiper family is experiencing this summer.
Keep the stories coming my way.
Jim & I are leaving on an adventure of our own...tomorrow, we hope...
but as long as I have Internet connection I can blog.

So send me pictures, stories, ideas for blogs.
Let's keep in touch.
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From Vicki & Bob.....
On our travels west to go east, we visited Bill and Laura in Yankton, SD.
Bob and Bill played golf, Laura and I went to garage sales (TOWN WIDE SALE!!!!).
The weather was a lot warmer in South Dakota than in was in Montana and Wyoming.
Our next stop was at Avatan and we spent 2 nights in a cabin.

We went out to dinner Sunday night with Dick and Frankie and they had us over for breakfast the next morning.

Lyle and Joann even stayed an extra day to visit with us and join us for dinner Monday night.

Avatan's cabins are 12 x 12 and have a full size bed, tv, dvd player, grill, etc., everything but a bathroom and that was right across the street.

The weather was sunny and 78 to 80 degrees. Everyone we met was friendly and some even remember us from our visit two years ago.