Morris and Barbara at the Grand Canyon

From Barbara's Remembering Story

Our big trip was out west July 19 to Aug. 6. Morris, the boys and I traveled in our motor home and we let Brenda and Tom and his mother drive our car. They pulled a big pop-up camper Our first stop was in Tyler, Texas to visit with Charlie and Glenda Brown, missionaries in Austria and good friends of Brenda and Toms and who were also on furlough. We visited Southwestern Seminary in Forth Worth. We went to the Grand Canyon, Flagstaff, Tuscon, Arizona, El Paso, Texas, New Orleans, and then on home. It was a great trip.

This is Barbara's journal from the trip.
(After each date is where they stayed that night)

Dad's CB Radio

Sunday, July 19 - Covered Wagon Camping, Collings Miss. $8.00
Awful bathroom (had a picnic lunch and cooked supper) Nice swimming pool Night was cool – Boys rode with us all day. Had fun talking and playing games, talking on CB to Brenda and Tom  

Monday, July 20 - Tyler, Texas
Left campground at 8:15 am Hot today, boys rode with us. Good thing as Andrew needs to use the potty every hour! Then a drink and then snacks! Hot today – arrived at Tyler, Texas 4:15 pm right on schedule! Had picnic lunch. Arrived Tyler, Texas about 4:15 pm found where Charlie & Glenda Brown (3 boys) live and went straight to their house. Charle and Glenda re missionaries in Innsbrook Austria and are good friends of Brenda and Tom.2 Glenda’s parents have about 30 acres and a lovely big home about 15 miles out of Tyler. They had a hamburger cookout for us for supper and we camped in their yard.   Kristopher hurt his leg quite bad on the go-cart.  

Tuesday, July 21 - Tyler, Texas
Glenda’s mother, Dottie fixed breakfast and we left to go to Charlie and Glenda’s place (a mission house). Had pizza at the Pizza Hut for lunch. Went to the zoo in the afternoon (very hot – at least 90 or above) Met Dr. Paul Jarrent’s daughter and her son at the zoo. She knew Morris! Stopped and bought Kentucky Fired Chicken and the trimming for supper for everyone. Talked until 11:00 pm. Had a very good night sleep.  

Wednesday, July 22 - Tyler, Texas
Rip and Dottie fixed pancakes for breakfast.  Left Charlie’s and Glenda about 11:15 am for a day of sightseeing. Drove about 30 miles to Kilgore where we visited a very nice, interesting “East Texas Oil Museum at Kilgore College”. Also the Rangerette Showcase. Had a picnic lunch with the Brown family. Stopped at the Mall and ate supper at a cafeteria.  

Thursday, July 23 - Trader’s Village, Grand Prairie, Texas
Dottie and Glenn fixed us a big breakfast and Charlie and family came out for breakfast. Left Tyler at 10:25 am. Very hot. Arrived at Grand Prairie, between Dallas and Ft. Worth. Camped at Trader’s Village. Had a picnic lunch (very hot out) and went into Ft. Worth. Drove all around downtown and went to the famous stockyards. Visited the famous Billy Bob’s (worlds largest honkey-tonk). Went into a lot of the stores, but it was so hot! Went to a Mexican restaurant for supper. Very good.  

Friday, July 24 - Trader’s Village, Grand Prairie, Texas
Tom want us to see the South Western Baptist Theological Seminary (where he will be going to the month of October). We toured most of the campus. Beautiful campus – green grass, lots of trees and flowers and every building so clean. Went to the Children’s Center where we visited Carole (the journeyman who was working in Linz with Brenda and Tom for two years: she’s been back for 2 years) She gave us a tour of the Children’s Center. Really outstanding. Ate lunch at Wendy’s. Drove around the city. Stopped and bought groceries – got back to the campground where the boys went swimming and we rested. Carol joined us and she brought ice cream for dessert. After supper everyone went back to Ft. Worth (almost a hours drive) to go see the rodeo. Marian1 and I were both tired and had no desire to see a rodeo so we stayed at camp. It was really peaceful. I read and enjoyed being alone with Marian. She is really doing great. Has never complained once and it’s so hot out I don’t see how she takes it! Anyway they all got back about 11:30 pm and said we missed something great. The boys had to tell me in detail the whole event!  

Saturday, July 25 - Sun Down Campground, Amarillo Texas
Left campground around 8:30 am. I wanted to go to the big flea market right there on the campground but it was to hot already and everyone was ready to go. Rode all morning – oil fields and lots of wide open space. Can see for miles ahead. Arrive in Amarillo early afternoon and camped at Sun Down Campground. It was early so the boys went swimming in the pool and Tom and I did 3 loads of washing. About 7 pm went into Amarillo to eat steak at the Big Texan Steakhouse. That was some place! It was expensive but worth every bite. Rode around Amarillo and got back to camp late. Tom stayed up and finished trying our clothes. Real cool tonight after so hot all day.  

Sunday, July 26 - Rancheros Camping Park, Santa Fe, New Mexico
Left campground and drove all day. About mid afternoon we stopped at Glorieta as we were going right by it. Toured the grounds and visited the Foreign Mission room where we talked to some other missionaries for Brazil. Took some pictures and got on our way. Stayed at Rancheros Camping Park at Santa Fe, New Mexico. Went into town to look around and just missed the Indians in the square where they set up booths to sell their wares. (it was just a little after five o’clock pm) Found a Wendys after driving all over town for ½ hour. Rushed to one of their 5 museums on Indians just in time for the outdoors story hour. People brought chairs and blankest to sit on to listen to this famous storyteller. It was very good. He told 5 stories especially for children. Very cool night (elevation 7,000 ft)  

Monday, July 27 - Page, Arizona
Got up early (6:30 am) Going to make Lake Powell today (over 500 miles) Stopped and had picnic lunch at a real nice rest stop in New Mexico. Long and tiring drive all afternoon through beautiful and strange country. Red and various shades of red mountains and sometimes for an hour not one living soul or house or town. Then an Indian hut here and there and then small communities of real Indians. Went from Santa Fe on 85 to Albuquerque, then 40 to Gallup on to Flagstaff, then 89 up to Page, Arizona. Got here at campground at 6:60 where we had reservations for 3 nites. Went into town around 7:15. Had supper at a Chinese-American restaurant for $5.95 so much Chinese food we couldn’t eat it all! And all very good. There we found out we were on Pacific time and had to set out clocks back another hour. Signed up for a raft adventure on the Colorado River for Tuesday afternoon. ($24.95 each adult and $16.95 for children) Got back to camp late and everyone is too tired to shower!  

Under the shade of the camper
R-to-L: Dad, Tom, Marian, Brenda, Kristopher with hat

Tuesday, July 28 - Page, Arizona
I cooked breakfast (bacon and eggs – only the 2nd time!) and French toast. Tom jogs almost every morning for an hour so breakfast was over when got back. He likes a bran cereal with yogurt in it and 1 cup of coffee for his breakfast. Brenda hardly ever eats (but she did eat 2 slices of French toast today). We left about 8:30 to go to the Visitor’s Center here at the Dam. Really impressive. Took some pictures and got back to the campground about 11 – as we needed to be downtown to meet the bus to go to the rafts for the river ride. Well, it started raining and people said they just got back and it was cold. Brenda, Tom and the boys had their jackets in the car so they boys really wanted to go so Morri and I canceled out. It was a good thing we did cause we had to have $50 of work don on the car (2 belts and the blinker lights went out). Marian didn’t go either. She stayed back at camp and rested. So Morris and I went back to camp after we ate lunch and got the car fixed and had a nice nap! Work up and went back to Page where I went to the Post Office and then to a fantastic grocery store (Safeway). Bought groceries, pork chops and each an individual salad and microwave pizzas. Grilled the meat and had a good supper at camp. Took showers (these are the cleanest showers we had so far). Had microwave popcorn tonight. The boys put up their ten for the first time – its’ 9 pm and raining again but they want to stay out there. Kristopher has slept in the motor home with us for the past four nights. Jeremy kids him and it hurts his leg where he burned it.   Oh, back to the raft trip. Brenda said the first hour was miserable. It rained and it was cold but the boys never complained. Andrew set a record – he did not “pee” for almost 5 hours! After the first hour the rain stopped and they got dried off and had an exciting trip. They served drinks and refreshments on the trip and had a great time.  

Wednesday, July 29 - Page, Arizona
Left the campground about 7 am to go to the North Rim of the Grand Canyon 130 miles away. We left the camper and our motor home and all squeezed into the car. Stopped at McDonalds in Page to eat breakfast. Arrived at Jacobs Lake (gift shop, restaurant, campground, etc) 40 miles from the Canyon. Stopped and continued on our way. Arrived Grand Canyon about 11:00 am. Walked out to Angel Point ( ½ hour walk) then came back and ate lunch at the restaurant at the lodge.  After lunch everyone except Marion and me went on a mule ride around the rim of the canyon (1 hr. ride for $10.00 each). After that we took in the gift shop, another short hike and back to the campground, about 6:30 pm. Fixed soup, crackers, cheese, and a big fruit salad for supper. Went to bed early. At 260 mile round trip today: we were crowded in the car but had a great day.

Brenda and Tom's pop-up camper

Thursday, July 30 - Page, Arizona
Took a while to get packed up, eat breakfast. Left our campground at 9:15 am. Stopped in Page for gas and then on our way to the South Rim of the Grand Canyon (130 miles away) through strange beautiful, strange red country. Arrived about noon – stopped at several overlooks to view the spectacular view. Arrived at the Lodges (5 of them!) and ate lunch in the dining room of one of them. Visited the gift shops, looked around (the place was crowded with people). Probably 5 times more people here than at the North rim. Marian had decided earlier she wanted to go on a helicopter ride.  Well they were all booked up so she, Morris and the boys decided to take the airplane ride for 45 minutes ($50 each adult, $25 child). So we left to drive to the airport 8 miles away. Got their reservations for 4 pm. It rained some at the airport when they left but Morris said it wasn’t raining over the canyon. So far this and the mule ride have been the biggest thrill for the boys.   While they were up in the air, Brenda, Tom and I went to get gas and decided to stay at this really nice campground called Grand Canyon Camper Village. Ate supper at McDonalds (they charge for a glass of water here as water is so scarce they have to haul it in from 60 miles away). Also had to pay for the shower! After supper Tom, Marian, Jeremy and Andry drove back to the canyon to see the sunset.  Morris, Brenda, Kristopher and me went across the highway to the IMAX theater, and incredible film on the Grand Canyon shown on a 82 ft wide screen. It was well worth the $5.00 we paid. It was really great! Very cool all day today and we didn’t run the air cond. Tonight for the first time.  

Friday, July 31 – KOA, Tombstone, Arizona
Very cool this morning. In fact Brenda and Tom needed our small heater on in their popup for the first time. Left camp at 8:10 am. Headed back down to Flagstaff then Phoenix, Az.  I think we are heading home!   From Flagstaff to Phoenix, all desert and miles of huge cactus – a sight I’ve never seen before. Very hot (101° at 1 pm on bank sign in Phoenix) Tom heard on the radio 103°.  After Phoenix we passed a lot of farms using irrigation on the desert.    Went through Tucson – very big city. Stopped at Casa Grande, an Indian gift shop and museum and refreshments right past Phoenix. Took a 22 mile detour at Benson to go to Tombstone to spend the night at a KOA. Very nice campground, cleanest bathroom yet, and a very nice swimming pool. One nice shade tree between our campers. That was nice as it’s mostly desert out here and trees are few.   Got set up and went into town. Not many people here as their tourist seas is in the winter. Looked a all the restaurants and finally found one we liked. Very interesting town. Lots of old west history. Should spend a whole day here. Went back to camp about 9 pm and the boys went swimming for 1 hour. Cool again tonight. Nice breeze in fact a big wind came up and then a rain during the night.   Side notes: Andrew has a small brown teddy bear that he takes along. Every few days Teddy has a birthday so that means he has to by Teddy a present!  Yesterday he wanted a needle and thread to make Teddy a sleeping bag to carry in his backpack that he brought Teddy a few days ago! He can sit in the camper with us and play with Teddy for hours! It is a good thing we have this motor home with a bathroom. Andrew drinks more hat any child I’ve ever seen then he has to pee!  

Saturday, August 1 - Roadrunner R.V. Park, El Paso, Texas
The boys wanted to go back into town so Marian and I decided to sat at the KOA and do some washing. (4 loads!) and Morris took our motor home in and had the oil changed. Left camp (Tombstone, Arizona) at 10:45 am. Hot again today but by mid afternoon big clouds cam up and then little rains off and on. Stopped and had picnic lunch at a real nice rest stop right out in the desert. Hot but under the roof the picnic table it was bearable.  Usually in the shade there’s a wind blowing that makes it bearable.   Saw thousands of cows in feed lots along the road. Never in my life have I’ve seen so many cows in one place!   Camped at a real nice campground in El Paso, El Paso Roadrunner R.V. Park. Ate supper in a cafeteria and then walked around a huge mall. Had drinks and frozen yogurt and got back to camp and went right to bed. (Called Beth tonight)  

Sunday, August 2 – KOA, Junction City, Texas Left campground at 8:10 after eating breakfast at camp. We’ve only eaten breakfast out 2 times so far. What a boring hot day! Stayed in Junction City Texas at a real nice KOA. Ate supper out. Had Bar-B-Q for supper ($5.00 a plate and excellent food). Hot all day but really nice and cool tonight. Boys, Morris, Brenda and I all went swimming.  

Monday, August 3 - Oak Leaf Park Camping, Orange, Texas
Left campground at 8:45 (late today) Finally we are out of the desert and into nice shade trees, water in the creed, green pasture, sheep, cattle, peach trees. Rode thru the L. B. Johnson Memorial Park. Wish we had time to take the tour. About 10 am stopped in Fredericksburg (a town settled by Germans). Went into a very nice bakery where they had table and chairs and had all kinds of delicious baked goodies. Walked about 3 block and Brenda saw a skirt she’s been look for so she went in and bought it. This part of Texas is quite pretty but not all day. Had lunch at Wendys.   Stopped at Orange Texas (right on the Texas-Louisiana  line) at Oak Leaf Park Camping. Nice campground lots and lots of trees. Went into town to a seafood restaurant. It wasn’t nearly as good as Florida seafood (and over priced). Stopped and Tom washed the car. Rode around town. Went back to campground and boys went swimming. Got to bed about 10:20. Hot and humid night but Brenda said with the fan on it was bearable.  

Tuesday, August 4 - Comfort Motel, New Orleans, Louisiana
Left Campground at 8:40 after breakfast of some more of our delicious goodies from the bakery we bought yesterday. Hot and humid today. Stopped for picnic lunch and finished up most of the food we had. Got to New Orleans (2 pm) and its’ raining and looks like its’ not going to stop. Morris suggest we stay at a motel so there was one right next to the campground only minutes from downtown New Orleans. (Comfort Motel)  Very, very clean and nice. Rain stopped so we drove downtown and walked down Bourbon St. Very hot and humid. Rode around town and got back to hotel about 5:30. Morris and I took boys swimming in the pool and Tom went and got pizza for the boys supper. Marian, Morris and I ate in the motels dining room (not too good) and Brenda and Tom dressed up and went out in the town. (They ate at the Count of Two Sisters where Betty, Billy and us have eaten before). Seemed so good to be in a motel with real beds and bathroom. Morris took the boys for another swim and we watched TV until 10 pm. Brenda and Tom got home about 11 pm.  

Wednesday, August 5 - Best Western Motel, DeFuniak Springs, Florida
Got up about 8 am. Stopped at Shoney’s to eat breakfast and got off from there about 9:45 am. Its’ raining quite hard. Noon and we are in Alabama and it finally stopped raining.   Florida!  Hurray! Stopped at McDonalds for lunch and got to Ft. Walton Beach about 3 pm. Stopped to see Marian’s sister and brother in law. Left about 4:45 and drove to DeFuniak Springs where we spent the night in a Best Western Motel (we had money left!). Ate at the Pizza Hut and drove around town where Marian pointed out where she and Tom3 (senior) lived and worked when they first got married. Also where some of her relatives lived. This is where she grew up. Got back to the motel and Tom took the boys swimming. Watched TV and wet to sleep about 10:30 pm.  

Thursday, August 6 - Home
Left Hardies where we ate breakfast at 9:00 am. Pouring down rain! Tom and Brenda are going through Monticello to see another aunt and we are going home. Left Tom and Brenda at Tallahassee. What quiet!  

Home Sweet Home  

Very Good Trip

Total millage 4,876 miles  

P.S. This terrible handwriting is due to the fact I always wrote this in the mornings while we were driving along and it very hard to write, especially some highways!    

 

Click to see detail expense log