BLRI day 3

Roanoke, VA

Another day of collection... although we didn't quite fill it up... rain stopped us at about 1:30. Collected to MP 169 of the parkway though. We still have a lot of the OPP lane to collect and a lot of smaller routes but we're making progress.

Also got a nice sulfur smell in the van today. One of our batteries is over-heating and it's not making for the greatest ride. It's over-heating because it's over-charging; it's not leaking anything, but it's not good. We think it could be an isolator that's bad, but we're not totally sure.

Good thing is that it only overheats when the systems are OFF; so we can work without the smell or the worry of a battery exploding (don't think that's possible).

Forgot my camera today; but the parkway is pretty unassuming around Roanoke. Maybe some more tomorrow.

BLRI Day 2

Roanoke, VA

Collected more of the Parkway today.... pretty busy day. Here's a map of what we drove...


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Had to drive to the top of Sharp Top Mountain in the Otter Peaks area. It was hairy to say the least. It's closed to the public, but we had some keys to get us in. They have a short bus that shuttles people to the top. So we had to time our run with the driver so we didn't get pushed off the side of the mountain. I'm not really sure I'd want to ride in a bus on this road though... pretty much straight down with no guard rail.

We made it as far as the pavement went. The rest of the way would have to be by foot. We were a little worried that we'd run into the bus on the way down if we took to long... so we ran. It wasn't too far, but it got me breathin' pretty hard. Actually nice to get some exercise in the middle of the day. Probably helped me make it until 6.

Another long week, put in 69 hours last week and I'm on my way to 75 this week. Nice paycheck, but I'm missing home.

I'll post some pics tomorrow...

forgot to post this last night...

SHEN & BLRI

Waynesboro, VA

Well I'm back to civilization... it's nice to have my cell phone work again, but I do miss my view. We started in SHEN on Monday (I think, days are running together). Collected a lot that first day, saw a bear cub too... just hangin out on the side of the road. Could've reached out the window and picked him up, did not seem to care about anyone but the ants he was eating, looks like he needs them.
SHEN is a beautiful park, it's major asset is the Skyline Drive. Here is a map of it... The road basically goes along the crest of the Blue Ridge Mtns for about 105.730 miles (actually that's exact, we drove it). It was created in 1931 as part of the Works Progress Administration (largest New Deal organization).

I was expecting it to be pretty, but the pictures I'm posting really don't do it nearly enough justice. Vistas were at every corner and it was hard to keep my eyes glued to the road or the computer screen.

That last one is a view from our lodge deck at around 830 at night. That's the Shenandoah Valley, and it was one of the only looks I got from the lodge. Clouds and mist plagued us a lot of the week, luckily not keeping us from working though (46 hours in 4 days).

First time we got to stay at a park lodge, Big Meadows Lodge was the place. They usually won't offer a Government rate, but we worked out something with the park. Although getting the bill right was somewhat of a haggle, it was worth it though.

My room didn't have a phone or internet, and my cell didn't get coverage. So I was disconnected, pretty uncommon for me. I even sent a postcard, pretty old-school.

The lodge offered nightly entertainment at their "tap room" (bar). I went a couple of nights and it was.... interesting... They advertised it as family friendly, and that it was. Here is the list of entertainment, I think I saw Charlie Maddux on Monday. It was a dad and his 16 year old who seemed oddly happy to be there (when I was 16 I was not hanging out with my parents... ever). The dad played the hammer dulcimer amongst other instruments and the son played the obo... need I go on?

I had a bad feeling about it when I heard the waitress say to another couple "um yeah, I kinda dread these nights when he plays." I wish I had a video camera... oh god, I love you, you tube... I couldn't take more than 2 beers worth...

Here's some more pics from SHEN....

The fog got a little crazy sometimes. And yes I took this while I was driving... it's straight for a while I was going about 25mph... ok?

I saw this bear right outside of the lodge, just cruising towards the campground...
This guy was right next to the road... a couple of miles down the road.
The rest of SHEN was slightly a blur... finished up yesterday. 4 days to collect about 160 miles worth of routes. It took a toll, and that's only a 1/4 of what Blue Ridge Parkway brings us.


We started BLRI today. 466 miles from the end of SHEN down to Great Smoky Mountains NP. And it's not a straight shot... winding road up and down ridges and valleys. Plus we have to drive everything twice since we collect both directions. So you can go ahead and double that mileage, and we can't go much faster than 30mph. Long days are in my future that's for sure.

BLRI is pretty though, just like SHEN, but the terrain varies a little more. No bears today but a couple of pics... I like that last one... sums up a lot of the views pretty good (hazy, rolling mountains)

Collected 75 miles of the parkway only 391 miles left... ugh... Here's a map of what we collected today...


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Hopefully I'll have internet the next couple of days, I know so many of you missed my updates...

OZAR to SHEN

Front Royal, VA

Drove the rest of the way to SHEN ; 2nd half of the drive was nice. Shenandoah Valley is beautiful, I think I'll enjoy collecting SHEN as the views will be nice.

This is what our drive looked like today....


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So I've been trying to keep track of all the states I've been to in my life... and I'm proud to say I'm up to 48. Just missing Vermont and Alaska. I've been to a couple for only a short amount of time... Washington, South Carolina, Georgia, Texas, New Hampshire to name a few that I've spent around a day or less in. But I've been around that's for sure.

Favorite state? That's tough... I mean California has so much to offer... Minnesota, well Minnesota... Wisconsin? not shabby... well I better have moved to Colorado for a reason so I'll stick with my home.

Hopefully collect some of SHEN tomorrow. Gotta do some trouble-shooting first. Sulfur smells from batteries are bad, right?

OZAR day 3, 4

Elizabethtown, KY

Finished up OZAR today... yesterday was tough. Almost lost it on the van; glad there wasn't a bat around otherwise I would've gone all "PC load letter" on that thing....

Long day today; had to finish up collection (14 routes) first then drive a ways. Drove up to the way northern section of the park and worked our way back down. Then droped off the radio in Van Buren (no cell service so park lent us a radio in case we got kidnapped by yocals or if the van broke down). After that we drove to Elizabethtown, KY. On our way to Shenandoah National Park in Northern VA. Here's a map of our drive today...


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Got to drive across the very Southern tip of Illinois around Cairo (Kai-ro); where the Mississippi and Ohio rivers come together. Two pretty big bridges in a couple of minutes.

That's it for now... Eastern time now so didn't get in until 930; now it's 1115.

OZAR day 2

Van Buren, MO

Well we collected, but not until about 4pm. Had to take the truck all the way to Poplar Bluff, MO (45 min away). Turned out the alternator was all screwy because the threading was stripped that held the pulley on. Luckily we keep spare alternators in the truck. Still took Carl 5 hours to take the old one out and put the new one in.

So since that's our only way of getting around, we had to sit at a trucker repair shop from 9am until 230pm. The air conditioned driver lounge consisted of a tv that didn't work, 5 issues of "Bowhunter", 5 chairs, and a leather couch that just not look appealing on a hot day. And it smelled like cleaning solution, trucker sweat, and grease... So we ended up taking a bunch of walks; even though it was sticky out.

They even gave us a truck to go get lunch in, which was nice. But it wasn't a semi... which would have been more fun. Thanks Duckett Truck Repair. If the alternator is still in tact in 4 months I'll thank you again.

So we finally got back to collecting around 330/4pm. Roads were a little wet, but we were able to finish 6 routes. We worked around the Big Springs area in OZAR. And you guessed it, it got it's name from a huge spring. Huge is an understatement.... 286 million gallons of fresh water a day guzzel up from this spring. It's the largest spring in the US and one of the largest in the world.

The water comes out at 55 to 58 degrees. So when it's 90 and humid out it gets all hazy...

This is close to where it just kinda starts...
That's where it just starts flowing... pretty crazy looking.

Rained a little in the evening, but it looks good for the rest of the night. Hopefully we can collect a full day tomorrow.

OZAR day 1

Van Buren, MO

I feel so unaccomplished.... We attempted to calibrate the truck fully today and then go collect some routes; it almost worked out. We have to calibrate our truck on a periodic basis and it was way overdue. We usually do most of the calibrations by hooking the truck up to "shore power" or power from a stationary source (outlet basically).

Shore power didn't turn out to be working since we re-wired some things a couple of months ago. So long story short... today sucked.

Got to use the NPS maintenance shop though... and they were a lot of help. Ended up having to change one of our belts today too, and Vinnie was a great help. Changing the belt sucked as well, but we did get it done.

It was another sticky, two-shower day. Humidity I've found just makes you tired and hard to think straight.

We also have a squeaking noise on our truck (figured it was the belt that we changed, but nope) that is worrying me a bit. Pretty sure we figured it out that it's a loose nut on one of our alternators. Hopefully get that fixed right away in the morning, do a pavement camera calibration, and pray it doesn't rain (60% chance) so we can collect. Not holding out much hope for the 3rd, but I'll take 2 out of 3.

So see, my job is not always "cake" or it's not just all sight-seeing. I mean it's a great job, love the travel, but days like this are tough. Tomorrow will be better though, it's gotta be.

Ate dinner at a place called "The Landing." Pretty nice, filet was a little well done; but eh. Wish we coulda been staying there, but they wouldn't give us the government rate. So we're staying at the Big Springs Motel .

It's ok... rooms were recently re-done; but shower heads apparently don't stay on here and the mattresses did not get updated. They have a bar across the way, but I'm a little scared to have a drink there, mostly scared to say I work for the Federal Government.

Ah well... maybe tomorrow I'll get a beer and meet some yocals.

OZAR

Van Buren, MO

Flew into Memphis this afternoon (Memphis airport is a brick monstrosity, the baggage claim reminded me of a hospital waiting area).

Drove the 3.5 hours to Van Buren, MO. Fell asleep and read since NE Arkansas is only a tad better than Eastern Colorado.


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So Ozark National Scenic Riverway is the official name... it's the only national scenic riverway I can think of, but I'm sure there's others. Don't know much about it yet, but I'll be here for 3 days; so I'll give you what I can. I know the Current River is the focus and that it attracts fishing and boating, but mostly tubing/rafting down the river. Sounds like a good time to me.

I guess there are many fresh water springs around here. Hopefully we get a chance to check them out.

This is gonna be a long trip (> 2 weeks likely), so lots of posts. So check it out daily and get on me if you don't see one daily.