Pick Up Day /  by Dave Hileman

In the Spring of 2016 we took delivery of our Oliver Elite 18 foot travel trailer. The photo shown is ours waiting for our instruction on how things work. We arrived at the facility in Hohenwald, TN, with our new-to-us Ford Explorer Sport Trac. Since that day we have towed the Oliver to 49 states, many several times, three provinces and one territory in Canada for a total of a bit over 122,000 miles. We have camped in National, State and County Parks, commercial campgrounds, Walmarts, Cracker Barrels, friend’s driveways and a lot of interesting places with both Harvest Host and Boondockers Welcome. Plus a few sketchy spots not on the preferred camping agenda. We now use a Toyota Sequoia and it is much better suited to towing the Oliver. We have been in cold weather, wet weather, hot weather, windy weather and perfect weather and the Oliver has proved itself equal to the elements to keep us comfortable. Not sure where we go next but looking at Connecticut, MA, New York, including Long Island, and Pennsylvania for the fall, Florida next winter and summer in the Northwest. We shall see.

Our first view of the Oliver ready to go.

A Most Unusual Rest Stop /  by Dave Hileman

Highway 170 on the Texas -Mexican border from Lajitas to Presidio is a road well worth taking. It dips and bends skirting the border and the Rio Grande the whole way. At one point the grade up and down a pass is a 15% incline. Pulling a trailer is a challenge but the scenery was wow and the fort at the Presidio a must see. Then there was a rest area with three covered picnic stations in the form of giant teepees. Well done, West Texas.

End of the Road /  by Dave Hileman

Litterarly at the end of a road in West Texas and figuratively at the end of the road for the RV and the vehicle. I just wondered who thought it was a good idea to move here or did they have zero options and just end up in this most desolate place? Just for reference, it was 119 degrees here last week. Imagine.

Art Installation /  by Dave Hileman

A few miles out of Maria, Texas, on a lonely, nearly empty road, you find this “store.” It is a Prada mook up complete with product on the shelves and signage. Nothing in view for miles. The store is just a prop, no working doors or sales staff et al just a contemporary expression of art in the 21st century.

Inside Out /  by Dave Hileman

Most of the cliff dwellings you can only see from the out side or peek in through a door, this one is taken inside the dwelling. You can see holes where a second story and a third story floor would have been. Unique opportunity.

Three Quarter of a Century Mark /  by Dave Hileman

Getting old but still loving every day. Cindy shot this of me getting up from a photo shot I was taking along a stream bed in Maine just a couple of years ago. Planning is ongoing for the fall trip with about a dozen more parks planned.

Crisscross /  by Dave Hileman

Still dealing with the injured finger yet with a bit of improvement. Therefore, not much writing as I post already edited photos. This is on a stream in the Great Smoky Mountain National Park.

Monument Valley Horseplay /  by Dave Hileman

The Indians of the Navajo Nation were adapt at offering the tourists opportunities for experiences. One man had this beautiful horse out on a small promontory where you could have your photo taken. The young man with the family that we were on our tour with chose to go. I was able- the family paid, to take his photo as well as several with his family. Neat memory. I would love to have stood a bit more to my right but that was not possible so I opted to get the distant landmark separated from the subject.

Humpback Bridge /  by Dave Hileman

This is a beautiful covered bridge with an interesting feature, the hump in the bridge midway across. The bridge is just a couple minutes off I-64 near the WV -Virginia line. Well worth the five minutes. I have injured my finger so typing and work are limited. I will write more about the bridge later.

Acorn /  by Dave Hileman

Thought I would sneak in another shot of my new favorite Western bird, the Acorn Woodpecker. I saw my first one ever at Big Bend NP but after that saw a dozen or more. This one was at Gila Cliff Dwellings in New Mexico

Inspiration /  by Dave Hileman

Just in case you wondered where Mr. Lucas got his ideas for the Star Wars characters, may I suggest Beartown State Park in West Virginia. Around every corner you will encounter a new idea.