We're in Kansas again, Toto

Kansas is one of those states we usually travel through on our way to somewhere else. However, over 3 trips we have actually stopped at a little restaurant in Abilene called Joe Snuffy's Restaurant and Grill. Their breakfast is gooood...and the price of 2 eggs, toast, a good-sized slab of ham and hash browns is only $4.49. Abilene used to have the cheapest gas, but we spotted $2.15 gallon at Valero in Kansas City, Missouri. Eisenhower's presidential library is also in Abilene. Worth a look...and, well, the Truman Library in Independence, MO, is also an in-depth look at Truman's presidency. The photos are of Lawrence, KS, just outside Topeka, home of Kansas U. The historic downtown district is well appointed and was hopping with KU fans and their families. Ah, and there is a shop there called the NOMADS. No kidding...that got my vote along with a nice new bag to hold my computer on the road.

Land of Lincoln and Obama

A surprise on the streets of Springfield...a zoom zoom car show...we got out of town just in time
Law offices of Lincoln and Herndon
The old Capitol building still used for special occasions
Lincoln home parlor
Lincoln home

Springfield, IL, is a capitol city...not much buzz other than the interesting hoopla around and surrounding the Lincoln legacy. It was fun to visit his home (with Mary Todd) before he left for Washington, D.C. The National Park Service has done an excellent job of restoring and keeping up some of the neighborhood. A particularly fascinating tour of his law offices. The Old Capitol Bldg is right next door where Obama announced his candidacy, and then the Lincoln Museum and Library. The Lily Trout Cafe on 6th Ave. near the Old Capitol is a good place for a sandwich.

Cinn City, Ohio and Covington, KY

Had to taste Graefter's...the Cinn City's ice cream special
Historical Panels on the Covington side
The Amos Shinkle Townhouse B&B

The Cock and Bull English Pub, Mainstrasse, Covington...lovely restored district in Covington











Left to Right: Quilt piece at the Underground Railroad Freedom Center, Cormorant Fisherman statue in Twin Lakes Park, Roebling Suspension Bridge over the Ohio River (precursor to the Brooklyn Bridge), Foyer of the Cinncinnati Art Museum and lunch in the CAM parking lot.




Nothing like a dose of rain to dampen the bliss of car camping. In Cinncinnati we decided to slip indoors, the first night to a rather undesirable downtown hotel (avoid the Quality Inn on 8th St.) and then to the opposite experience of a soulful B&B, the Amos Shinkle Townhouse B&B, on Garrard Street in Covington, KY. Having lived in Kentucky, I had passed through Cinn City and Covington many times traveling too and fro to the east. So, this trip afforded a delightful stopover. On opposite sides of the Ohio River, the two cities founded by German emigrants, were on opposite sides during the Civil War. The Ohio River was the divide between slave and free and the Underground Railroad was active in this area. Although there was no guarantee that by reaching the Ohio shore a slave was safe. Many moved north from there to Canada where they truly reached their freedom.

Car Camping Bliss

Campsite on Lake Erie
Loaded up and road ready. The Glad Nomad and her mate each have their his and her sides for gear.
Handy kitchen area with cooler and drawers of cups/plates, silverware, etc. Note the screen for night use.
The homemade platform bed is made for travel
Notice the plastic drawer under the platform. There are six boxes underneath filled with clothing, food, equipment and more.

Car camping is blissful because during the day we use the mattress space to store extras. At night, the front seats move forward and are loaded up with those items. Only minutes to rearrange things. No tent to take down and put up each night. We're cozy. Cool, also, with a handmade screen for the back to keep the little bugs out. We also use flashlights at night...no need for an electric hook-up. We can sit up in the back, also...plus the built-in platform is long enough to stretch out. Blow up mattresses and real bedding make this set-up easy, fun and comfy!!! Most campgrounds we stay average $25 per night for a tent site or non-electric site. This way of traveling is economical, too!!!

On the Road Again Heading WEST

A piece of the Berlin Wall in the meadow sculpture garden at Kentuck Knob
Signature of FLW for Kentuck Knob designed and built in the 1950's
The outside patio at Kentuck Knob...art was the outside to Frank Lloyd Wright
Kentuck Knob has 58 angles...and some wonderful details such as the above
A fun sculpture at Kentuck Knob...not designed by FLW
A whimsical bird house at Kentuck Knob also designed by FLW
Fall is a'coming to east
Another view of Falling Water
A touch of FLW detail in the light fixtures
Falling Water was designed and built in the 1930's by Frank Lloyd Wright for the Kaufman Family of Pittsburgh. The house, built over a waterfall is simply elegant.
Can you guess that this is the famous ground hog from that unpronouncable town in PA? The one that comes out Feb. 2nd to check if winter is going to go on and on or spring will appear early?
A familiar sighting in PA...an Amish buggy
Ladybug on a rock at the beach
Yoga at the beach
Canada geese flying south

We headed south from the Adirondacks to Buffalo where we visited the Albright-Knox Art Museum. A few special Picassos', Monets', Pollack. Stopped at a campsite on Lake Erie for the night, then headed for Pennsylvania to visit Frank Lloyd Wright's amazing private homes: Falling Water and Kentuck Knob.

Hildene - The Lincoln Family Home

The Lincoln Family Home at Hildene
Player Piano/Organ
Mt. Equinox Manchester, VT
Hildene's beautiful gardens


Hildene was the Lincoln Family Home for 70 years. Abe Lincoln's oldest son, Robert Todd Lincoln, who became president of the Pullman Company, and his wife, Mary, spent summers at this lovely home in Manchester, VT. Robert was the only child of Abe and Mary Todd to live until adulthood. Robert's only son died at age 16. With the last descendant having no heirs, the house was purchased in 1978 by the Friends of Hildene. Short video and terrific docent guides give you a knowledgeable glimpse into another era. Fascinating to find out what happened to Robert T. Lincoln and how he lived. Open daily year round from 9:30 am to 4:30 pm. Admission to house and grounds is $12.50. Well worth it, especially on a glorious day such as we had.

New Highlight Photos

Boston Skyline from the Salem Ferry
Roof Exhibition at the MET
Farmer's Market Copley Square Boston
Boston Garden
Titticut Follies Guest House Oak Bluffs Martha's Vineyard
Super swimming off Oak Bluffs
Ang Lee, Director of "Taking Woodstock"
Street Musicians outside the MET
CATS in the Catskills
The Corn Palace Mitchell South Dakota
Yoga in the forests of Wyoming
The Glad Nomad with Half Dome Yosemite in the background
Upstate New York lake
Jenny Lake in the Grand Tetons

I'm renewing the photos since my previous photos were too large. The photos highlight our trip across the country and adventures in the northeast in July and August. Enjoy!