Travels with David and Bonnie

Christ the Reedeemer on Corcovado Hill

2011-01-27T11:32:00.000-08:00

Rio De Janeiro from Corcovado Hill (We could hear gun shots from below of the drug wars while on this hill.)

2011-01-27T11:30:00.000-08:00

View from Hotel Room (Lebion Beach and Slums)

2011-01-27T11:15:00.000-08:00

Ipanema Beach

2011-01-27T11:13:00.000-08:00

Mythological Guanabara

2011-01-27T11:08:00.000-08:00

Christ the Reedeemer on Corcovado Hill

2011-01-27T11:07:00.000-08:00

Copacabana Beach

2011-01-27T11:06:00.000-08:00

View of Rio De Janeiro from Sugar Loaf Mountain

2011-01-27T11:05:00.000-08:00

Sugar Loaf Mountain

2011-01-27T11:04:00.000-08:00

Flamengo Beach

2011-01-27T11:03:00.000-08:00

Municipal Theater

2011-01-27T11:01:00.000-08:00

Graffiti on Lapa Aqueduct

2011-01-27T11:00:00.000-08:00

Metropolitan Cathedral

2011-01-27T10:54:00.000-08:00

Old Portuguese Section of Rio

2011-01-27T10:53:00.000-08:00

Samba Parade Area

2011-01-27T10:51:00.000-08:00

Slums as We Entered Rio De Janeiro

2011-01-27T10:50:00.000-08:00

Flowers

2011-01-26T19:44:00.000-08:00

Rainforest Vegetation

2011-01-26T19:15:00.000-08:00

More of Iguassu Falls

2011-01-26T19:09:00.000-08:00

Iguassu Falls National Park in Brazil

2011-01-26T19:01:00.000-08:00

Gemstone Shop

2011-01-25T23:46:00.000-08:00

Entering Brazil - Nov. 25, 2010

2011-01-25T18:46:00.000-08:00

Late this afternoon we entered Brazil. On the way to the Iguassu Falls, we stopped at a gem store where they had beautiful expensive pieces made from their gemstones. The saying is "Argentina has the falls but Brazil has the view;" and what a view it was. It was magnificent. We walked for over a mile in front of the Iguassu Falls. From there we flew to Rio De Janeiro where we stayed in a hotel on the beach of the Atlantic Ocean. Parts of our tour and the Samba Show was canceled because of the gun fighting going on in the drug war there. We took a cable car up Sugar Loaf Mountain for a stunning view of the city, went to Copacabana Beach, Ipanema Beach, took a cog railway through the rain forest up Corcovado Mountain, a 2300 ft. peek, to the landmark statue of Christ the Redeemer.

Argentina/Brazil Border

2010-12-20T18:45:00.000-08:00

Looking Across to Brazil at Iguassu Falls

2010-12-20T18:37:00.000-08:00

Coati Begging for Food

2010-12-20T18:05:00.000-08:00

Rainforest by the Iguassu Falls in Argentina

2010-12-20T18:03:00.000-08:00

Store Boat on Parama River

2010-12-20T17:55:00.000-08:00

Parama River in the Tigre Delta

2010-12-20T17:54:00.000-08:00

Slums in the Same Area as Modern Aparatments in Buenos Aires

2010-12-20T17:52:00.000-08:00

Bonnie Returning with Gaucho From a Trail Ride

2010-12-20T17:50:00.000-08:00

Wagon Ride

2010-12-20T17:48:00.000-08:00

Barbecue at the Ranch

2010-12-20T17:47:00.000-08:00

Dog Walker

2010-12-20T17:42:00.000-08:00

Tango Show

2010-12-20T17:41:00.000-08:00

Clock Tower Given to Argentina by England

2010-12-20T17:40:00.000-08:00

Apartment House

2010-12-20T17:39:00.000-08:00

Buildings Along the Wharf That Were Painted with Whatever Paint the Ships Had Left Over

2010-12-20T17:37:00.000-08:00

La Boca Soccer Field

2010-12-20T17:36:00.000-08:00

Russian Orthodox Church

2010-12-20T17:34:00.000-08:00

Roceleta Cemetery with Mausolium Containing Evita Peron's Remains

2010-12-20T17:31:00.000-08:00

Government Building where Evita Peron Gave Her Famous Speech

2010-12-20T17:30:00.000-08:00

Florida Street in Buenos Aires

2010-12-20T17:28:00.000-08:00

President's Building in Buenos Aires

2010-12-20T17:26:00.000-08:00

Moreno Lake

2010-12-20T17:25:00.000-08:00

Patagonia Museum in Bareloche, Argentina

2010-12-20T17:24:00.000-08:00

Desert Land

2010-12-20T17:23:00.000-08:00

Myrtle Trees

2010-12-20T17:22:00.000-08:00

A Boat Ride in Arrayannes Forest in the Andes Mountains with the Highest Peak of 22,000 ft.

2010-12-20T17:19:00.000-08:00

Entering Argentina - Nov. 19, 2010

2010-12-19T17:00:00.000-08:00

Today we enter Argentina and embark on a boat ride to view the Arrayanes Forest with ancient Myrtle Trees and snow capped mountains. From there we flew to Argentina's capital, Buenos Aires. We toured the famous historic district, Evita Peron's grave site, and attend a Tango Show. We visit a pampas (ranch) where we rode horses, went for a wagon ride, and enjoyed a barbecued lunch followed by gaucho riding and a folklore show. We went to the Tigre Delta formed by sediment of the Parana River for a boat ride along water passageways between the Delta Islands where we saw exclusive mansions and small vacations homes. From there we flew to Iguassu Falls on the border between Argentina and Brazil. This huge waterfall is made up of 275 separate falls.

Chile/Argentina Border

2010-11-16T16:59:00.000-08:00

Chile's Puyehue National Park

2010-11-16T16:57:00.000-08:00

Cathedral at Puetro Varas located in the Lake Region of Chile

2010-11-16T16:54:00.000-08:00

Chile Farm Land from the Air

2010-11-16T16:53:00.000-08:00

Mounted Police in Vina del Mar

2010-11-16T16:52:00.000-08:00

Pacific Ocean Beach at Vina del Mar

2010-11-16T16:50:00.000-08:00

Colorful Homes Along a Walk We Took

2010-11-16T16:49:00.000-08:00

Valparaiso Harbor

2010-11-16T16:48:00.000-08:00

Hilly Streets of Valparaiso

2010-11-16T16:46:00.000-08:00

Open Markets in Valparaiso

2010-11-16T16:44:00.000-08:00

Vineyards in Chile

2010-11-16T16:43:00.000-08:00

River and Park in Santiago

2010-11-16T16:41:00.000-08:00

New Skyscraper Reflects Old Cathedral

2010-11-16T16:40:00.000-08:00

Inside the Old Cathedral

2010-11-16T16:39:00.000-08:00

Presidental Palace

2010-11-16T16:36:00.000-08:00

Santiago Surrounded by Mountains

2010-11-16T16:34:00.000-08:00

South American Trip starting in Chile - Nov. 15, 2010

2010-11-14T16:19:00.000-08:00

We went on a South American Tour with SmarTours. Our first stop was the bustling capital of Santiago, Chile. While there we visited the Pre-Columbian Museum, the city's Main Square, the Presidential Palace, and an old cathedral. We also visited the towns of Vina del Mar and Valparaiso which are summer resort towns along the Pacific coast. Since it is now spring in the southern hemisphere the tourist season is just beginning. We drove through the vineyards and took a tour of a winery. We flew to the southern port city of Puerto Montt and drove through the lake district and across the Andes Mountains into Argentina.

Dane Hansen Museum and Logan Historical Museum

2010-08-18T18:08:00.000-07:00

August 18, 2010

2010-08-18T17:43:00.000-07:00

August 18, 2010

We left this morning with the truck to go to Dean and Carrie’s in Jefferson City, MO. I took some copper, brass, and aluminum to drop off at the salvage yard in Norton, KS.

From there we went to Logan, KS to see the Dane Hansen Museum. Dane Hansen had a local lumber company and he also invested in many other businesses as well as in the stock market. The museum brings in many exhibits, some of them from the Smithsonian. This particular time there was a traveling exhibit of, "Supercroc." This reptile was found in the Sahara Desert and it was about 40 feet long. It was believed to be 110 million years old. There was a display of the equipment and articles used by the archaeologists at the site while working to excavate the parts of the skeleton.

There was a room that contained everything that Dane Hansen had in his office. There was a large collection of rifles and shotguns. There were large collections of spoons and coins from around the world. Mrs. Hansen also had a large collection of items from Japan including clothing and dishes.

We went to the Logan Historical Museum. They had a lot of the history of Logan and the surrounding area. I always look for something new at every museum and this time I found a cigarette dispenser. I also found a really good picture of a wheat harvesting crew with the header and header barges. Also in the museum, there was a 1938 Ford pickup and a 1908 IHC runabout with a two cylinder opposing engine and chain drive with high wheels. Also I thought my brother, Dick, would like the 7 foot long slide rule that they had.

We drove on to Council Grove, KS and stayed overnight with my brother, Tom, and his wife Kay. We also met Andrea, Dryden, and Riley there.

Brothers - David, Tom, Dick, and Roger

2010-06-13T11:54:00.000-07:00

Our family

2010-06-13T11:52:00.000-07:00

5 good looking Grandkids

2010-06-13T11:51:00.000-07:00

Herndon Ox Roast

2010-06-12T11:37:00.000-07:00

Ox Roast Parade - Kyle, Leah, & Rachel with horses, Dick's car, and Portschy float

2010-06-12T10:49:00.000-07:00

Back: Randy Weber, Carol Leitner, Bonnie Weber, Chuck Adams, Dennis Allacher, Dick Martin Front: Marlin Marintzer, Karen Cernik, Sam Solko, David

2010-06-11T11:42:00.000-07:00

Heidi with Grandma

2010-06-10T11:48:00.000-07:00

David and Ellen celebrate their birthdays

2010-06-10T11:40:00.000-07:00

Candaesa is promoted to 6th grade

2010-05-14T11:35:00.000-07:00

J.D. plays baseball

2010-05-13T11:33:00.000-07:00

Heidi is dedicated at church

2010-05-09T11:17:00.000-07:00

April 13, 2010

2010-04-13T11:54:00.000-07:00

April 13, 2010

We arrived home about noon today. Home at last!!! We had 40 mile per hour winds from the south all the way home but it did not bother the driving much until we got to Atwood and was driving between the hills.

Dean, our son, is 40 years old today. Bonnie told him he is not over the hill yet, so keep on climbing.

April 12, 2010

2010-04-13T11:51:00.000-07:00

April 12, 2010

We left this morning about 7:30 and the traffic wasn’t to bad going through Albuquerque on I-40 and I-25 but got a little heavier before we got to Santa Fe. We ate lunch at Russel’s Truck stop south of Raton, NM.

We continued on through Colorado and when I turned on Academy Blvd, I got stopped by the police. I figured I was in trouble turning over two lanes when I came on to Academy. Instead he had seem my living room slide tip out some when I turned the corner a little to fast. The top is not held in unless you use a support at the top to the wall from the slide trim board. I never have used one. Then I had the shoulder belt behind my back since it was hurting my pacemaker area. He said I could be fined. He let me go but told me to get a sheepskin piece on the belt. I thanked him for telling me about the slide and I would take care of it.

We drove on the Seibert, CO, and stayed the night at the Shady Grove RV Park. We drove over 500 miles today and we haven’t done that only once since we bought the camper. Bonnie said that was because I'm on my way home. But we got a campground for $13 here. Yeah!

Ellen and David rides the camel.

2010-04-13T11:47:00.000-07:00

April 11, 2010

2010-04-13T11:44:00.000-07:00

April 11, 2010

We met Brian and Tracy at the Zoo and had a picnic lunch there. Then we took Ellen and David to ride the camel. Ellen always remembers that Grandpa lets her ride the camel when we go to the zoo with them; otherwise she doesn't get to ride. This may be the last time they get to ride because they are discontinuing that service.

It got pretty warm today and the kids got tired so we left about 3:30 to go back to Brian and Tracy’s. About 5:00 we went to Olive Garden to eat. Then we said our good-by to Brian, Tracy, Ellen, and David because we will leave early in the morning for home.

Ellen getting ready for soccer game

2010-04-13T11:43:00.000-07:00

April 10, 2010

2010-04-13T11:40:00.000-07:00

April 10, 2010

We went to see Ellen play soccer at 2:00 and then we baby sat while they did some business. Then we took Ellen and David out to our camper to stay the night. They had a lot of fun chasing bubbles in the air and breaking them. Ellen said once she wanted Mommy and David then said he wanted Daddy. But all went well and they were soon asleep.

David with a new toy from Grandma

2010-04-13T11:39:00.000-07:00

April 5 - 9, 2010

2010-04-13T11:14:00.000-07:00

April 5 & 6 - Bonnie paid bills and got the laundry done. We looked at furniture stores to see if we could get a love seat narrow enough to use in our camper. It is a difficult decision to see what would work and allow us to have a computer desk where the couch is now. We stopped at several stores and then at an RV dealer.

April 7 - We took the Ellen and David to play miniature golf and then down to the playground they used to go to on Constitution Street. They played there about 2 hours and then we took them to McDonalds to have ice cream and play in the Playland, Tracy fixed a nice baked ham dinner for us that evening.

April 8 - Today we went to Best Buy on North Coors to return our GPS for another since it had gotten so it wouldn’t erase or change the trip log. They gave us another in exchange. We ate sandwiches that evening at Brian’s, then went to watch Ellen practice soccer.

April 9 - We took the camper in about 11:30 to have the AC fixed. They had to put in a new control module and a thermostat. Tracy had hamburgers fixed for us that evening. We did not get our camper until 5:00 so it was a little after 6:00 by the time we got the camper set up again and got to Brian’s.

Which David did the building?

2010-04-13T11:06:00.000-07:00

April 4, 2010

2010-04-13T11:04:00.001-07:00

April 4, 2010

Becky had invited us to church with her so we drove there. It was not to far from where Brian and Tracy live. They had a really good Easter service and the group there were very friendly. They are a small congregation but are trying to build a larger group.

We went to Brian and Tracy’s for lunch and then visited the rest of the afternoon. We baby sat with Ellen and David in the evening so Brian and Tracy could go out to have dinner with some friends. We were able to get them to watch the film, "Heidi", and then we got them to bed and to sleep before Brian and Tracy returned home.

April 3, 2010

2010-04-13T10:59:00.000-07:00

April 3, 2010

We met with Don and Becky Beardsley this morning at the Calico Café for breakfast. We had a good visit with them. Brian, Ellen, and David came to eat and visit with us a little later.

We left there and went to Lowes to buy some thermostat wire and a wire to pull through the camper walls. We went back to the camper and proceeded to install the wire. It took about 4 hours to complete and that is about what the technician at Aloha said. They charged $125 per hour so I saved $500 and made nothing. Ah well! Sometimes a penny saved is a dollar stepped over.

Bonnie used the ladder to clean a mark from a tree off the front of the camper and discovered the tree had torn the rubber roof on the side near the front so I got a roll that would cover the tear. It takes a while to put on but seems to really stick well to the rubber roof.

April 2, 2010

2010-04-13T10:55:00.000-07:00

April 2, 2010

We took the camper to Aloha RV this morning and left it for them to check the controls on the air conditioner. Then we went to IHOP on Menaul to have breakfast. We drove back to Aloha and visited about the problem with the AC. They will order a kit to change the AC to a thermostat control instead of a remote operation. I will run the wires needed for the thermostat.

We took the camper out to the Enchanted Trails RV Park to stay while we are here at ABQ. We got set up in a terrible wind and fairly chilly. I didn’t hook up the water to see what the temperature is tonight. It was below freezing at the Balloon Vista Park last night.

April 1, 2010

2010-04-13T10:54:00.000-07:00

April 1, 2010

We left Grants to go to Albuquerque with a strong wind partly behind us which allowed us to make 13.5 miles per gallon. We got to the Balloon View RV Park about 10:30 and set up without unhooking the camper so we are ready to leave in the morning.

Brian, Tracy, Ellen, and David James came to have dinner with us this evening.

La Ventana Natural Arch

2010-04-07T23:26:00.000-07:00

El Malpais from Sandstone Bluffs

2010-04-07T23:24:00.000-07:00

Bandera Volcano

2010-04-07T23:22:00.000-07:00

Spatter Cone

2010-04-07T23:21:00.000-07:00

Collapse Lava Tube at El Malpais

2010-04-07T23:19:00.000-07:00

Ice Cave

2010-04-07T23:15:00.000-07:00

Atsinna Pueblo Ruins

2010-04-07T23:13:00.000-07:00

El Morro National Monument

2010-04-07T23:10:00.000-07:00