Tumbleweed, Tumbleweed... Bienvenido a Casa!!!

You both were missed VERY MUCH!


Now, that the duo has been back in Cali for a day, they are wishing they could just hop back into the rig and leave all their worries behind!

It's tough coming home to paperwork and responsibilities!





If we in the OC had the power to turn those wind mills toward you, just so you could receive our hugs and kisses and how much we are all welcoming you home!!!!



You were missed!





Now, you are off and running all over again... Let's go Angels! Pull out those Rally Monkeys!





This is Free Spirit... signing off of the Tumbleweed adventure...

The Land of Enchantment

New Mexico State bird is the Roadrunner, highest peak is Wheeler Peak, (which correct me if I'm wrong, but I believe Tumbleweed has been to the highest peak at one point in his life).The state mammal is the black bear, tree is the Pinon, flower is the Yucca, the state grass is the blue gramma grass (huh?). And for the state vegetable, (this is for Brooke) - Chiles and FRIJOLES!(beans):)

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And one more... Mike & Eula - you will recognize all of these pictures... Make sure you blow a kiss for your Free Spirit towards the Tooth of Time!

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Fun Facts.. about those TEXANS, Junior's birthplace!

Texas state bird is the Mockingbird, the state flower is the bluebonnet, state gemstone is the blue topaz, the state insect is the beautiful monarch butterfly! You can actually see the monarch butterflies here in California! :)

Go LONGHORNS!

Taken off the Amarillo website...

Amarillo is one of the last places on earth where the Old West is just minutes away. Amarillo sits at the crossroads of America, almost equidistant from both coasts. Since the 16th century, Amarillo and the Texas Panhandle have drawn visitors from around the world. Francisco Coronado, the first European to see the vast open spaces of the American Southwest, crossed the high plains in 1541 -- nearly 80 years before the Pilgrims landed at Plymouth Rock. He was followed by cattlemen and sheep herders from all points of the compass looking for fresh grazing grounds and a place to start a new life. Most famous of them was Charles Goodnight, inventor of the chuck wagon and a the basis of a character in Larry McMurtry's Lonesome Dove series.

When the oil boom hit Texas, it exploded across the Texas Panhandle. Vast fortunes were made overnight and the region's economy grew because of the lure of black gold.

Since World War II, the Panhandle economy has diversified to include heavy manufacturing, petrochemicals, farming and, of course, modern ranching. In the last decades, the ranches have been the key to a new industry--tourism. The Amarillo area is now a major destination for Old West enthusiasts from all over the globe. The lure of the Old West also draws thousands every year to attractions like the internationally-famous outdoor musical "TEXAS", and Western Breakfasts and/or Dinners.

Amarillo and the surrounding Panhandle area are a unique blend of two American eras. There are the working ranches, essentially unchanged in the day-to-day operations from the late nineteenth century, and there is a vibrant twenty-first century economy, providing leadership for the modern west. That's why we say when you step into Amarillo, you "Step Into The Real Texas."

The winds are blowin the rig!!

Flew through Oklahoma stayed over night in a nice Sams club parking lot.
They stayed the weekend in Amarillo, Texas... Yee Haw!!
Today they are heading to New Mexico... (my personal favorite!)

Continued Post

Tennessee...

Also known as The Volunteer State, well that is fitting!
Tumbleweed & Eula, they named a state after you..
After this trip, we may need to change the name to "The State of Confusion"!!!! HA!!

Yes, folks, sadly they have departed the lovely mountains of North Carolina, give a long look back and blow it a kiss for all of us here in California!

So back to Tennessee, some fun facts..

History recalls: Tumbleweed actually used a pick up line with Eula that went like this, "Are you from Tennessee?" and Eula replied, "no, Henderson" which he then kindly replied, "well, that's funny, because you're the only Ten I See!"

The State bird is the Mockingbird, the state gem is a fresh water pearl, the state flower is the iris, one of the state songs is "Rocky Top"! And finally two of the state insects are the firefly and ladybug. Tumbleweed, let those fireflies and ladybugs lead you two home safely!

Here ya go... sounding off Ole Rocky Top,

Green Beans, apples, & Tarheels

Yes folks, they made it to North Carolina!!! Arrived in Maggies Valley, NC. Eating fresh veggies out of Becky's garden. You gotta love family.

Hugs!

What does a True Southerner do on a Saturday?

Who else goes to Skippers for some barbeque, then to the store for buttermilk to make corn bread and then goes back to the house to make flounder?? Well none other then TRUE southerners!! Go Team Griswald!!

I know you are asking, "Where are the Griswalds"?

Well, they did not get lost, they made it to their home state... North Carolina!

Now, they are in Virgina...
They are with Judy, Clarke's sister, having a good ole time... Eating by the pool, hanging out with William and the other great Cleaton family members, what more could one ask for!!!

Clarke made a quick pitstop through Palm Springs for a 12 hour meeting! UGH! Then he flew back to his #1 girlfriend, Eula Faye.

They will be hanging out at the Cleaton headquarters for a little bit, and then their rig will be headed to Maggie's Valley!!! :)

over the weekend...

This is the Foxwood's casino addition in the background, MGM that added more square footage! Added a year ago. I took this pic from the tower which is 18 stories high in the museum through the glass! I can't believe that it turned out this good.





Pequot Tribe, Foxwood Casino and Hotels is in the woodlands of southeastern Connecticut. It is a 4.7 million square foot casino including three luxury hotels and a tribal research center along with the state of the art gaming , dining, shopping and entertainment. There are 7,200 slots, 400 table games, a race book, poker and keno.
They opened in l992. They got the recognition from the Government in l983. This is success!
They have a museum that is awesome. It is better than the Native American one at the Smithsonian. We could have stayed longer. We were in it for 5 hours. No cameras were allowed beyond the entry room. You can check them as well as coats etc.










Now, just picture this...

It's a lovely Sunday afternoon in New York City...



... and Tumbleweed must make their way through the city!











They actually made it, without a scratch, and arrived in Gettysburg where the local town folk weren't too pleased to have those dang Californians rolling through!

We shall never forget... our heroes.

Please keep in mind that today marks the 8th anniversary of America's losses.

This day will ALWAYS be a reminder to the rest of the world that WE as a country stand together, and no matter what, no one can shut us down,
we are strong, and we believe in what has united us and kept us going strong as

The United States of America.

Hurricane Bill

Just one day after their departure from Nova Scotia...




AND... these are live pictures from Peggy's Cove, where they had been staying!





















...and just like that the Griswolds exited Nova Scotia!

Griswold Update..

This light house is the Beavertail Lighthouse at Jamestown RI. Built in 1898 and it is the third oldest lighthouse.




Aboard the USS Constitution in Boston




This picture is the little Italian Bakery, it was there when Pat was growing up. We got the wine cookies here!







We went to one of Pat's cousins last night (their house) in Providence and they made this great Italian dinner. We had a great time and some of his relatives came also. We toured Jamestown yesterday and it was beautiful.

In Pat's home town

Rhode Island

Rhode Island's authenticity merits international praise
Rhode Island is a state of many firsts. First to take action against British rule, first synogogue, first successful water-powered cotton mill, and now the Ocean State is the first U.S. state to receive the Griswolds - that's Rhode Island!

Down the way in Kansas City....

The Angels take the Royals 2 to 1...

Tumbleweed will always stay true to those Halos

To all those Red Sox fans...

The foursome traveled via train today to Boston...

Traffic through Boston... eeks!

The foursome ended up in a traffic jam today, thanks to that darn Tom Brady and his Patriots... Benjamin would be a jealous little kid knowing that Nama and Papa were just steps away from his hero!!!

...Correction from today's post...

That picture was not the Bush's house... that picture was the very first/oldest light house...

Here is Barbara and George's house. Eula still got really close, if Barbara only knew she for sure would be inviting her over for tea!




Oh Eula, just swim over there, I'm sure they wouldn't mind the visit!!!

Welcome to the pristine Kennebunk, Maine

Kennebunk is just 90 miles north of Boston...





Eula has enjoyed herself so much, she has been skipping up and down the beach... and yes of course stalking President Bush's summer home! Below is a photo of his & Barbara's home...


She was so excited, she couldn't help herself!!! You know if she could have she would have baked them some banana bread! :)



Below you will see photo from Campobello Island, a Canadian Island which lies off the shore of the U.S. The foursome took a ferry boat over to Deer Island, they then drove across the island for 30 minutes, and took another ferry boat to go over to Campobello Island.







This is the home of the Roosevelt's, James Roosevelt who initially visited the island in 1883, with his wife Sara and his one year old son Franklin D. Roosevelt.




No, that is not one of the Roosevelts... it's the one and only Clarke Griswold!!

Where are the Griswolds?

This week the foursome traveled through to The Province of New Brunswick, the gateway to Atlantic Canada. They were parked along the Bay of Fundy, do you think they picked this Bay simply for the name?? I would have, who wouldn't have fun in Fundy!! It is a bit like Sunday Funday!!
Mike and Eula did have a good time just from watching the tide go in and out, according to Eula, the tide would go out and then it would take six hours to come back in, Wild! She did try to catch this phenomenon as a photograph, not too sure this can really give us an idea of the real thing, but we'll just go with it, so close your eyes after looking at the photo (close them for six hours) and then when you re-open them imagine that the water is back to where it was before! Now, if you are not laughing your head off, I don't know what to tell ya!

So, these two pictures are taken two hours apart...





This picture is of the "Changing of the Guard" at Officer's Square, Fredericton



This is the famous Hartland Bridge, which is the longest covered bridge in the world!




Effective yesterday, 8/27/09, the foursome traveled over the US Border (Who let them back in?? I need to work for Homeland Security) Someone seriously needs to do something about our borders!!! hee hee! Anyhow, God Bless America is all Eula could say, she secretly admitted to actually kissing the ground when they got across the border and back on US soil, you know she will end up on someone's You Tube video!

Mom "hearts" the United States!!!



They are in Maine for now, stay tuned for there next location...

As Willy Nelson says, "on the road again"

The foursome climb aboard and head out from Annapolis Royal, they along with their "rigs" are boarding a ferry boat (which you can see in the picture below). Once aboard the ferry, they lock up the rigs and go upstairs... hopefully for cocktails! Anyhow, the ferry ride is 4 1/2 hours long... ugh.

Mike & Eula have met a couple from Clayton, N.C., those dang southerners can be spotted from miles away... hmmm, makes you question whether there is a specific scent to them!! HA HA HA!

Eula said, they can see Maine across the water, they are missing the good ole United States... can anyone guess why... nope, its not that they miss "2 Buck Chuck", they definitely don't miss our latest healthcare reform, and most definitely do not miss any of the other political nonsense going on...
Well enough guessing... they miss southern corn bread and the Angels!

8/18/09 - 8/19 Port Anne - Port Royal

We toured around Port Royal and Port Anne in the Annapolis Valley today.






EEKS!!! What is that on the wall, Mike, you must be hungry!!

Annapolis Valley

The foursome are in Annapolis Royal for four days, beginning Monday. It took them 3.5hours to get to their destination. According to Eula, "It is beautiful here, no rain, and we are right on the bay. A warm and sunny day!"

The Annapolis Valley is in the Canadian province of Nova Scotia. It is located in the western part of the Nova Scotia peninsula, formed by a trough between two parallel mountain ranges along the shore of the Bay of Fundy.

These pictures are of the Halifax Citadel Farmers Market











From the time of its founding in 1749 through the 19th century, Halifax was one of four principal overseas naval stations in the British Empire. To defend Halifax, British military authorities built a series of fortifications in and around this strategic port - a system now known as the Halifax Defence Complex .



Today, the Citadel is operated by Parks Canada and is recognized as one of the most important historic sites in Canada.