Photo by The Joneses We're the proud grandparents of the high school grad — Georgia! — — — E-mail Gisela! Got a comment for Gisela about their trip? Sent her an e-mail, giselaontheroad@yahoo.com — — — SLIDE SHOW: While in Kentucky ... — — — View Larger Map
ARCHIVES: You wouldn't believe how beautiful Canada is! Wouldn't change a thing Who knew there was so much to see in South Dakota? Time is flying by — but at least we're having fun! I (heart) Hart Ranch, South Dakota Rallyin' in Goshen, Indiana A special day From friends to work to warmer temps, we're still having fun in Florida Traveling to Texas Finally, we're in Alaska! On the way to Canada Boise sure has changed a lot Escapees Rally in Wyoming Bittersweet trip through the southeast From Boy Scouts to ‘Stars on Ice’ Michigan is full of treasures Arriving in Florida Earning our ears Celebrating Christmas and New Year's in Florida and the Disney Parks Down in the Lowcountry Making our way through Minn., Wisc. and Ill. The holidays in Florida Our time in Lakeland has come to an end Couldn't have had a better time in Omaha! Arriving in Charleston A day with friends from Frederick 'Life is good' in Lakeland, Fla. Leaving Florida, and heading north Our final days in Kentucky Into the Keys Out of Charleston and off to Indiana Dreams come true in Vermont You never know what you'll see or who you'll meet in Alaska Leaving Indiana, but not before taking some of the state's best sites Idaho is full of natural treasures — and moon-like craters, too It's all about the theme parks From prairie country to beautiful views to grand 'ol Yellowstone Thunderstorms, flooding, tornados and a visit with the 'Duke' And so it begins ... Moving days for Greg and his family The gang's all here! Happy to be in Florida again Strawberries, and more strawberries 'The RV Capital of the World' From the beautiful Maine coastline down to southern Connecticut Training for our jobs at Disney World Chillin' out at 'Camp Monaco' Under the weather Back in Florida At long last, back in the area Lots to see in the 'Show Me' state With family and spectacular sights in Hailey, Idaho Look back, look ahead Back in the Lower 48 The cold weather is hitting Florida From Dallas to devastation Back on the road again Leaving Idaho and heading east Beautiful Alaska A memorable visit to Alaska's Kenai Peninsula Watch out for flying dinner rolls

Georgia is a very smart girl and was the salutatorian of the 2008 class. Needless to say we were proud grandparents and cheered loudly when she received her diploma. Her speech was excellent — we thought it was better than the one the valedictorian gave — of course we were "just a little" prejudice. Georgia wants to be a teacher. She will be going to the University of Maryland — in Heidelberg, Germany!

Last weekend we actually had time to do some sightseeing. On Saturday we, including Greg, Sandra and Katie, went to Churchill Downs in Louisville, home of the famous Kentucky Derby. What an impressive place — it is considered The World’s Most Legendary Racetrack.

The Kentucky Derby is held the first week in May each year and is the first let of the Triple Crown. The visit to the museum included a behind-the-scenes walking tour. Our guide was full of interesting facts about Churchill Downs history. I wish I could remember everything, but there was just too much information.

We had planned to just visit he museum, however there were races that day. So, we also went to the track and watched a race. It's just $1 for seniors and it's free for active military, so we sat in the bleachers that on Derby Day cost $80 — these are the cheapest seats and you have to buy at least 10 tickets.

We also did some betting, just for the fun of it, had a Mint Julip (the Derby drink) and watched a race. Sandra was the winner in our group, her horse won first place. The odds were 1-3 and her bet was not very high so her winning wasn’t the ‘Big One’, but it was better what Greg, Ralph and I won, which was nothing!

On Sunday, Ralph and I went to Abraham Lincoln’s birthplace near Hodgenville about 25 miles south of Fort Knox. I have to admit I did not know that Lincoln was born in Kentucky. I assumed he lived all his life in Illinois, the State of Lincoln. His first nine years were spent in Kentucky, then his family moved to Indiana and later on he moved to Illinois.

His birthplace is located in an area called Sinking Spring Farm that is now a National Historic Site. An early-19th-century cabin, symbolic to the one he was born in, is preserved in a memorial building. For many years it was thought to be the original cabin, however there was always some doubt and just recently, through high-tech testing, it was determined that the cabin was built around 1842. Lincoln’s parents, Thomas and Nancy Lincoln, built a cabin in 1809 shortly before Lincoln was born. His boyhood house is in Knob Creek, several miles north, and is where the Lincoln family moved in 1811. Unfortunately, we didn’t have time to visit there. It was so interesting to read all about Lincoln in the museum here and the park was so beautiful that we spent all afternoon here.

The kids left for Germany on Monday. The plan was to take them, including their pets to the Louisville airport on Monday using our CRV and their rental car. However, they were told on Sunday that Jack, their Golden Retriever, was not allowed on the plane because the temperatures were in the 90s.

Jack weighs 95 pounds and has to be in the cargo area — pets are only transported in temperature below 85 degrees. So, they had to rent a mini-van, drive to Chicago (colder there) and take their flight to Germany from there. They arrived safely in Frankfurt and are now in Heidelberg. It was very hard to see them leave, but it gives us a great reason to go to Germany.

Gretchen appears to finally adjusting to our new life style. In the beginning she had what our Vet called ‘separation anxiety’ and we actually had to give her a tranquilizer when we left her alone in the motor home for a longer period of time.

She has always enjoyed going camping, but I guess leaving the big house she guarded so well and move in these much smaller quarters was a bit much for her. She does enjoy being outside and we do take her with us whenever possible.

We are now in Missouri just north of St. Louis.