[Key: Memoir in Times New Roman, Travel Journal in Arial]
Had a trip out west in 1993 for 8th Combat Cargo Grp [Squadron] in Las Vegas. Stopped in Kerrville to see Millie + Tom and on to San Antonio for a visit with Bob, Gen, Linda and Michael.
4/20/93 Pensacola to Vicksburg
Left at 7:15 on I-10 thru Ala. + Miss. to Rt. 12 + 55 north to Vicksburg. Strong winds + steady rain in afternoon. Took 2 hr. self guided (with tape) tour if the National Military Park. In addition to the interesting displays of the tourist museum, U.S.S. Cairo + museum, we were impressed with the numerous birds: hundreds of cardinals, wild canaries + Indigo Buntings. The main idea of this battle was to control the Mississippi R. The huge memorials erected by Illinois who sent 36,000 soldiers to the war + the stately Wis. statue with the eagle on top. Stayed overnight at Quality Inn.
4/21/93 Vicksburg to Ft. Smith, Ark.
We got off early on I-20, then Rt. 65 to Little Rock, then I-40 to Ft. Smith where we spent the night at a very nice Quality Inn. We stopped at the Tourist Inf. Center where we picked up brochures. Bill Clinton is big here + they’re proud of our 42nd Pres. At Russellville we stopped + got wooden candlesticks for Kent + Tamiko’s 5th Anniversary. Lake Providence sign as we entered the town was “Keep L. P. Beautiful – Don’t Litter” + it was a shade worse than poor depressed Wellsville – almost the entire downtown area was boarded up. We ate at Wyatt’s Cafeteria + bought Mike a shirt for his b.d. in the mall.
4/22/93 Ft. Smith – Okla. City
We toured the historic area after breakfast before leaving for Muskogee. There we visited the Five Civilized Tribes Museum + that was interesting learning about the Chickasaw, Creek, Choctaw, Cherokee, + Seminole tribes. The Azalea Festival was on + that was a sight to behold in the park – thousands of flowers in bloom – right at their peak!! The drive to Okla City was about 3 hr from there. We spent the evening visiting with Rs + As + had dinner at Harrigand. Wanda + Sam have been friends since the late 50’s + Dodie + Jim were neighbors in Japan. We spent the night at As.
4/23/93 Okla. City – Albuquerque
After a delicious, hearty breakfast of pancakes, bacon + eggs, we left for a long journey today. The strong gusty winds we encountered delayed our arrival in Albuquerque. With 70,000 people arriving for an Indian arts + crafts show, finding a motel room was a real challenge. We succeeded in locating a new Days Inn with comfortable accommodations on I-40 West of town. Our pasta dinner at a nearby Italian restaurant was very tasty. I had a spinach lasagna + Bert had a fettucini dish.
4/24/93 Albuquerque - Flagstaff
We got an early start + continued to drive across the state in gusty winds. Stopped to see the Petrified Forest + Painted Desert. We were disquieted seeing how commercialized the Indian villages have become. They even paint their wares on the rocks in front of their stores. This is nature! We tried to get a room reserved for tonight in Kingman but no luck, so we stopped in Flagstaff + loved it. Beautiful city! Had a delicious Mexican dinner at the Green Tree Village across from Days Inn at a place called Salsa Brava. U. Northern Ariz. located here – very nice. We hope to come back here sometime.
4/25/93 Flagstaff – Las Vegas
Got an early start – gas at Williams 1.38 – highest yet. Big breakfast at Denny’s in Kingman. Lots of people there for a trade show + car show. Stopped at Lake Mead National Park for a short time, then on to Las Vegas. Arrived early at Flamingo Hilton + room wasn’t ready. Waited an hour for luggage to get up to the room. Had a social hour + met the folks at the Chablis Room. Afterwards we met again in the hospitality room on the 28th floor for more fun. Betty + Chuck T are our host + Hostess. Retired early – Pacific Time 9:00 p.m. (We’d been on Central + Mtn.)
4/26/93 Las Vegas
We boarded the bus at 9:00 A.M. for our trip to Hoover Dam + Lake Mead. The two hour boat ride and the elevator down to the bottom of the dam were very impressive. The weather was warm, bright + sunny + allowed us to enjoy the day fully. The evening was spent at Lindy’s for dinner + a walk with Jan C afterwards on the glitzy stream – unbelievable show by the lions at Caesar’s Palace + a volcano eruption at the country’s largest hotel, the Mirage. Hospitality at room 28128 with the gang!
4/27/93 Las Vegas
The ladies boarded a bus at 8:30 for a city tour, trip to Liberace’s Museum + lunch at a mall. The afternoon the guys had a business meeting + pictures taking session after touring Nellis AF Base. I took a few pictures of the strip + tried my luck at the 5¢ slot machine. Made a couple bucks, then got dressed for dinner at City Lights dinner theatre. Met at the hospitality room afterwards + bid our good-byes until next year when they’ll come in Sept. to Pensacola. Good group!
4/28/93 Las Vegas – Phoenix
We packed it up today + checked out at 8:00 am. We took Rt. 93 + had long delays through the Joshua National Forest. We stopped at Kingman for breakfast. At Wickenberg we called Doreen + gave her an idea of the time to expect us. What should have been a 6 hr. trip took us 8 hr. We had a nice evening discussing + reminiscing. Hugh wasn’t there as he’d had to make a trip up north. Their home is very lovely. Our meal was delicious + we had a very good night’s sleep.
4/29/93 Phoenix to Tucson
Left Doreen’s after a nice breakfast, picture taking + review of directions to Mary + Bill E’s in Tucson. We stopped to see the Casa Grande National Museum with the huge saguaro cacti + remains of the Hohokam Indians. Coming across the desert area we were impressed with the state flowery tree, the Palo Verde. We found their lovely home after a drive up the mountain + had fun reminiscing + getting acquainted with Bill from Pecos. (Loved having you – Come back soon!!) Our dinner this evening was at Lea’s Mexican restaurant. Flowers to remember are: Mexican Bird of Paradise, Oleanders, Lantana. Cactus: Ocatillo, Saguaro, Prickly Pear, Cholla.
4/30//93 Tucson to Van Horn, Tex.
Had a nice breakfast, said our good-byes to Mary + Bill + left about 8:30. Our first stop was at the Saguaro Nat. Monument just east of Tucson. Before getting back on I-10, we rode over the Old Spanish Trail for a short distance. Going through the Sonoran Desert we saw more of the stately saguaro cactus on the mtn side as well as in the desert. The state tree, Paloverde had mistletoe in the branches. It was a long trip today – passing thru El Paso at the busy rush hr was hectic + we were glad to pull into the newly furnished Best Western in Van Horn for dinner + a good night’s rest.
5/1/93 Van Horn to Kerrville
It was an early drive today to Millie + Tom’s – I-10 all the way – about 370 miles. We stopped in Sonora for lunch at Dairy Queen. We arrived early in Kerrville to see Millie + Tom. Tom drove us all over the area. Had a discussion about the Guadalupe Mtns in the area – the uplifted remnants of an ancient undersea reef. Had a delicious dinner which Millie cooked, then we went to K-Mart looking for an owl or an eagle to scare the birds that are building nests of mud – they’re swallows, we think.
5/2/93 Kerrville
Millie + Tom treated us to a delightful trip to the LBJ Ranch in Johnson City today in their motor home. We saw his restored boyhood home + his reconstructed birthplace house along the Pedernales R. The whole area is covered with wildflowers that Lady Bird can take credit for. We stopped at the Gallery for lunch afterwards in Fredericksburg. Another stop was at Lowes where they purchased an inflated owl to scare the birds away from their porch because of all the muddy nests they make.
5/3/93 Kerrville to San Antonio
We left Millie + Tom’s after a good breakfast + got to Oakwell Farms around 11:00 at Bob + Gen’s in San Antonio. Their apartment is lovely. They took us to lunch at New Braunfels Smokehouse in Alamo Hts. Then we took a tour of Brackenridge Park where we saw a variety of flowers + fish. For dinner we picked up Linda + had some Mexican food at Adelante. We dropped her off, saw their home, talked with Michael, then went for a walk around their area. Watched TV. Northern Exposure was really outstanding.
5/4/93 San Antonio to Baton Rouge
We left Bob + Gen’s about 8:15 + followed I-10 all the way to Baton Rouge. There was a little traffic – the only cities of any size were Houston, which wasn’t as hectic as usual, Lake Charles + Lafayette. When we entered La., we were impressed with the hospitality at the Tourist Info Center, and made a reservation at the Newcourt Inn. It’s very nice – on the west side of Baton Rouge. Our meal that evening was at Sophie’s Buffet at the Holiday Inn. We were impressed + gave the accommodations here a ***!
