Lady travels across America one state at at time, Part 4

Lady Traveler's Book Shop on Wheels

The use of traveling is to regulate imagination by reality,
and instead of thinking how things may be,
to see them as they are.


I'm back.
Finally.
I find it hard to write while traveling.
There is so much to take in.
By nightfall, when we settle in for the night,
I'm quite tired.
All I want to do is shower
and climb into my comfy queen bed
with Robinski and Popcorn.

We were happy to arrive in Hurricane, the foot of Zion.
For many reasons.
To visit my brother, John, and his wife Ger.
To meet up with the ACA Rally at the Zion Resort in Virgin.
And to find out what is wrong with our air conditioner #1.

Main Street Cafe, Hurricane, Utah
the best little cafe in town!

One of my first stops for breakfast is the Main Street Cafe,

the place where I used to come when I visited my Daddy 

when he was in the local assisted living home.

Outdoor breakfast on a sunny morning with brother John and sis Ger

Family morning breakfast

Brother John, me, Rob, Xyla, and son Jason

Although I've been here many times,

Zion's majestic beauty still captivates me.

Always will.

His mercies are new every morning.

Hiking trails.  Waterfalls.  Rock climbing.  Biking.

Cute shops.  Delicious cuisine.

 Zion has it all.

My next blog will take you to our west coast destination:

Huntington Beach, California

Blessed are those who have not seen
and yet have believed.
John 20:29

sharonleaf.com

Lady travels across America one state at a time Part 3

Happy!
Canyonlands, Moab Utah

For those of you who follow my Facebook page,
you get a day-by-day peek
at our journey across America,
one state at a time.
More details and more pictures.
Otherwise, you have to settle for my
quickie blogs, so here goes.

We're so happy to be in Utah.

this is our first time to visit Moab, Utah

and we're so glad we did.

Millions of years of history can be seen here.

Our first day was spent in Canyonlands.

Canyonlands in Moab Utah

Beauty beyond words.

Dead Horse Point

Dead Horse Point

Colorado River 2,000 feet below

Dead Horst Point

Colorado River

This is my favorite place in Moab.

I could have stayed most of the day.

Yes, we did eat.

Rob got his first Mexican dinner, 

but not his last I'm sure.

Fiesta Mexicana, Moab Utah

And we ate healthy too!

Peace Tree Health Food Cafe

Moab Utah

I highly recommend both restaurants, 

plus many more that the town of Moab offers.

We ate el fresca at all of these restaurants.

Eddie McStiff's

Pyro and pizza.

Moon over Moab

Too many pictures to post.
When you travel,
remember to cherish each moment,
and when 'hiccups' come along
(like an air conditioner going kaput)
you take a deep breath, pray,
and know that everything will be okay.

Next blog:
Zion, Utah!

Happy trails to you
until we meet again.

Lady travels across America, one state at a time. Part 2

KOA Route 66, Springfield, MO
with son Shawn, Bass Pro Photographer

Go forth seeking adventure.

Open your eyes, your ears,

your mind, your heart,

your spirit,

and you'll find adventure everywhere.

Day 1: Rob and I pulled out of our driveway

on Saturday, August 27th.

Today is ... lets see ...

...what day is it?

You see, when you travel,

you have a habit of losing track of time.

Which is kind of nice,

as long as you remember to pay the bills on time.

I write this on Friday, September 16th,

Day 22 of our journey from

South Carolina to

Southern California.

Oh, the beautiful sights we have seen

along the way.

From the hills of Tennessee,

to the plains of Kansas...

Farewell Kansas. I love your simple beauty.
Thank you for giving us corn and other fine products.
Besides Dorothy and Toto, I don't know anyone else who lives in Kansas.

...to the Rockie Mountains of Colorado.

It's almost too much for the human senses to handle

in such a short time.

But I'm doing my best.

My new friend in Aspen CO

Many ask me,

How is life on the road?

I answer,

It is so freeing!

Less clothing, less kitchen ware,

less everything.

And I haven't missed anything, yet.

The Summit in the Rockies, CO

There are challenges, 

similar to those at home.

For example,

our front air conditioner went kaput

right after we departed

Springfield, Missouri.

I had my first experience with ANTS

in Colorado, of all places.

(a few traveled with us to Utah

but they are slowly dwindling)

But I choose not to complain.

After all, I remember when we traveled for a month through Siberia in 1992

on the former Youth Communist Propaganda train

with no air conditioning, and we fought man-eating mosquitos.

And what about when we volunteered on the 

WW2 ship Restoration for 14 months in 1994-95

and traveled the seven seas and a few oceans 

without air conditioning and fought varments from rats to bugs of all species.

So how can I complain?

The Summit, Colorado
September 2016

The weather has been almost perfect.

We had a few hours of rain upon entering Springfield, Missouri

so we took the wrong turnoff due to the downpour and to my 

iPhone's wrong directions.

It took us 45 minutes to finally find the KOA that

was only 12 minutes away!

What stresses me the most?

When my iPhone and our RV GPS

gives us different directions and we must

decide quickly which direction to take.

Rob: "Should I turn?"

Me:  "I don't know."

"Why don't you know?"

Ugh!

And so it goes.

We laugh later, but it's quite stressful when its pouring and

you're not familiar with the area.

Here are a few photos of our journey thus far.

Gorgeous scenery. Delicious food,

Good sleep.  Meeting new friends.
Next state, next blog: UTAH!

"Rocky Mountain HIGH, Colorado!"
John Denver Sanctuary

I stumbled upon an artist colony in Redstone, a
small town north of Glenwood Springs,
not too far from Aspen.

Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers,

for by this some have entertained angels without knowing it.

Hebrews 13:2

Lady travels across America, one state at a time ... Part 1

California, we're coming ... after we stop in Kentucky, Missouri, Kansas, Colorado, and Utah!

My bionic knee is well enough,
so I'm taking my E-ped bike to California!
August 2016

To travel hopefully is a better thing than to arrive.

Happy September!

Let me begin by reminding you that

my iMac went kaput,

so there won't be many recent pictures on this blog.

But I'm still in good working order so

I shall write on Rob's laptop.

Finally, the day has arrived and we 

have hit the road to California.

We spent the first night at 

The Walmart Resort

in Cookville, Tennessee.

Such entertainment at that place!

Sunset at Kentucky Lake

Day two we arrived at the KOA 

Kentucky Lake campground.

Oh, so beautiful and peaceful.

AND a large swimming pool

all to myself.

I've already swam twice 

(my bionic knee is rejoicing!)

and I'm getting ready to trek over in about an hour.

Poolside at Kentucky Lake campground

We will head for Springfield, MO tomorrow

where we'll spend a week visiting

with our son, Shawn,

and his beautiful wife of 20 years,

Frances Watson,

journalist and anchor for

ABC news, Springfield MO.

Yes, we are very proud of her.

This is a short blog.

Don't sound so happy.

I shall return,

and hopefully I can figure out 

how to post the pictures from my iPhone.

Until next time ...

Light is sweet and it pleases the eyes to see the sun.

However, many years a man may live,

let him enjoy them all.

Ecclesiastes 11:7-8

www.sharonleaf.com

Lady Traveler heads to California!

Lake Murray, SC 2016

I have good news and bad news.

Bad news:  my iMac computer went kaput!

Lost everything.  Ugh!

But I choose not to dwell on it. I'm writing on Rob's nice laptop

So I shall survive.

California, here I come!
Right back where I started from!

Good news:  I passed my written driver's license grade F test yesterday.

That means that I have a temporary license to drive a truck.

Or better yet, our forty-foot RV, Moon River.

Rob is so proud of me.

I'm proud of me.

Now I'm ready to hit the road to California next week!

There is beautiful country to see.

I'm hoping to show plenty of photos to you.

I don't consider myself a bonafide travel writer.

I can't keep my mind on one specific topic.

I just write what I'm feeling at the moment.

Famous authors tell the young aspiring writers,

Write what you know.

That's what I do.

Sweet thoughts after my knee replacement surgery
from family and friends.  Love you all!

I want to encourage those of you who are going through

challenging times with your health.

After going through my knee replacement surgery,

I feel more pain for those who are going through an illness.

My knee is still swollen and painful,

but nothing to compare with family and friends

who are fighting cancer

and other so-called non-curable diseases.

My prayers are with you.

I'm not one to write about politics and religion.

They are both so misunderstood.

I don't talk about politics and religion

unless asked

because no one really cares.

Most people on both sides are so unbent on

their beliefs that it is a waste of my time.

But I will always take time to talk to

the person who has lost their way

and who is looking for truth.

"I am the way, the truth, and the life.

Jesus

He's my favorite topic

because He has changed my life.

Still is.

He makes life worth living.

He is simple.

Straightforward.

And fun.

I wish you oceans of truth from the truthful one...Jesus.

www.sharonleaf.com