Photo by The Joneses Ralph and Marty stand outside the Shriners Hospital in Salt Lake City. — — — E-mail Gisela — — — SLIDE SHOW: Traveling to Texas
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

From Oregon, we drove to Boise, Idaho and spent a few great days with my niece Tami and her family, and nephew Tory and his family. I couldn’t believe how much Ashelynn, Tami’s daughter, had grown since last summer. She walks — no runs — all over the place and talks a lot.

I also enjoyed spending time with my other grandniece Kenna, Tory’s daughter. Kenna is 11 years old and when they visited us at our “Condo on Wheels,” she was interested and awed by everything in our coach. I hope she will be able to spend some time during her summer vacation with us — wherever we will be. It would be a nice experience for her.

When we left Boise, we made a short stop in Twin Falls, Idaho, where Ralph’s sister Mary and her family lives. We all went out for dinner and enjoyed catching up on all the news, including meeting a new puppy, Daisy, an English setter they use when they go hunting. I just love how our lifestyle has afforded us to get together with family.

From Boise, we traveled to Ogden, Utah, where we stayed at Hill Air Force Base.

Our friend Marty is retired from the Air Force National Guard and eligible to stay and have guests at the military's RV resort (FamCamp). These are less expensive than commercial RV parks and often have all the amenities we need.

One day, we drove to Salt Lake City to tour the Mormon Temple and the Shriners Hospital.

The Mormon Temple is the largest and best known of all the temples of "The Church of Jesus Christ of the Latter-day Saints" and is situated in the center of the city. The building site was dedicated in 1853, and the temple was dedicated by President Woodruff in 1893. We visited the two visitors centers, the Hall of Assembly and the Tabernacle, where the famous Mormon Tabernacle Choir practices and holds concerts.

Our guides, a couple who does this as a contribution to their faith, were very informative and told us many interesting facts about the Mormon religion and the founder Joseph Smith, as well as the buildings and beautiful temple grounds.

The Shriners Hospital in Salt Lake is one of the 22 hospitals providing specialty (mostly orthopedic) care for children under 18 years of age at no cost to the patients.

Ralph and I were much involved with Ali Ghan Shrine in Cumberland and have visited several hospitals before. Marty is also a Shriner.

Visiting one of the hospitals is always an awesome experience and so it was this time also. The hospital in Salt Lake is only a few years old and is furnished with the latest technology items for orthopedic care.

Both visits were interesting and very inspiring.

After Utah we drove through Wyoming and Colorado before arriving in Kansas, where we stayed a few days in Wichita. Peggy is from Wichita and her brother lives here.

For us, the main reason to stay there was for repair work needed on the coach for the refrigerator and exhaust brake. We also needed new front tires, which sure are much more costly than regular car tires! Both repairs were taken care of and were covered under warranty. Just like with a house, things break and need to be fixed. The difference is we drive our house to the repair shop.

In Wichita, we parted from Marty and Peggy and traveled through Oklahoma and into Texas, which is where we are right now.

In Oklahoma, we had a chance to see the Oklahoma City National Memorial, which honors the victims and survivors of the terror attack on the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building on April 19, 1995.

Unfortunately, we were too late for the museum, but walking around the grounds was a memorable experience. Reading some of the testimonies and looking at the various outside exhibits, like the Field of Empty Chairs brought tears into my eyes.

We are presently at the MCD factory to have adjustments made to the shades in our coach. From here we will be heading toward the sun — Florida here we come!