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Sunday, December 16, 2007
Sunday, December 9, 2007
10/3 - Joliet, Il - Start of our Route 66 Adventure
We left Windy City for Joliet, Illinois. They have a small but informative and delightful museum that helped lay the foundation for the rest of our trip. 
The gift shop is staffed by a wonderful lady who shared her experiences and stressed to us that Route 66 was more than a road but the people who kept the road alive. She encouraged us to take time to meet and listen to the stories.
The museum had sets like a theater with seats that replicated the car seats of the 50s. There was an hour and a half video that had been put together by American Airlines for television. We were so glad we made the decision to sit and watch the whole thing. What a wonderful foundation for what we had ahead of us.
The sets that surrounded the theater seats depicted the unique and exciting experiences of the time, like drive-ins with car hops, 77 records, roller skates and motels with television sets. The picture of the VW camper got us so excited. It was exactly like our second camper that we had owned in 1970. These campers were custom conversion of the VW vans. The owner is a famous artist, Ralph Waldmire whose VW Bug and Camper was the bais for Disneys movie "Cars".
The gift shop is staffed by a wonderful lady who shared her experiences and stressed to us that Route 66 was more than a road but the people who kept the road alive. She encouraged us to take time to meet and listen to the stories.The museum had sets like a theater with seats that replicated the car seats of the 50s. There was an hour and a half video that had been put together by American Airlines for television. We were so glad we made the decision to sit and watch the whole thing. What a wonderful foundation for what we had ahead of us.
The sets that surrounded the theater seats depicted the unique and exciting experiences of the time, like drive-ins with car hops, 77 records, roller skates and motels with television sets. The picture of the VW camper got us so excited. It was exactly like our second camper that we had owned in 1970. These campers were custom conversion of the VW vans. The owner is a famous artist, Ralph Waldmire whose VW Bug and Camper was the bais for Disneys movie "Cars".
11/22 - Thanksgiving
We shared Thanksgiving Day with Linda and Tony who a
re also owners at the Kona Reef. They have lived on a boat in the South Pacific for the last nine years. They recently sold the boat and are now living here in Kailua.
The weather was wonderful, the company great and we all enjoyed sharing each others recipes and sharing past experiences.
We are very thankful for all of our family and all of our friends regardless of the distance. We are very fortunate to have been touch by all of you.
re also owners at the Kona Reef. They have lived on a boat in the South Pacific for the last nine years. They recently sold the boat and are now living here in Kailua. The weather was wonderful, the company great and we all enjoyed sharing each others recipes and sharing past experiences.
We are very thankful for all of our family and all of our friends regardless of the distance. We are very fortunate to have been touch by all of you.
Saturday, December 8, 2007
10/4 - Pontiac, Ill.
Reached Pontiac late in the afternoon. We stopped at the information center in the middle of a very picturesque and charming town. The lady there heaped a bagful of information and items that were for sale in the shop but were given to us. The Route 66 Museum next door was already closed so she drew us a map to a near by 4H campground that wasn't even listed in the camping guides.
We drove out to the campground and found a very country, peaceful area, just a few miles from the town. No one was there to admit us but there was an honor system box at the entrance - too cool. The grounds were full of trees, squirrels and apples. There were about 15 campers there, about half of them full timers who work at the Caterpillar plant down the street. Our camping neighbor had a toy hauler camper and he was very anxious to see the inside of the Honu and reciprocated sharing his hauler to Carl's delight.
The little town had much to see and the campground was so peaceful we decided to stay for a couple of days. There was a Route 66 Museum, housed in an old Firehouse maned by elderly volunteers who had many stories to share. Like the story of the picture of the License Plates that belong to one family from the community. The small ones like that one that is circled in the picture were made of soy beans during the war because the metal was needed in the war. Not many survived because the cows ate them. An art benefactor commissioned 3 large Metal Sculptures that were displayed in a neighborhood park that we sought out and also the three swinging bridges and the beautiful Victorian homes with unique front doors that the town was noted. One of our big finds was when we stumbled upon the original marking of the road west which is now a route 66 icon (they were still making the 66 signs) while we were looking for the park with the sculptures.
We had a great time, the town and the people had much to offer.
How Cool Is This?
I found some old slides of our first campers. We bought the White
VW used right after we got to Great Falls, Montana in 1968. It was a homemade conversion but we went all over in it.
In 1970 we went to a Spring car show in Los Angeles and ordered the custom conversion Safari which compared to the Casper was luxurious. Chuck was almost five months old when we picked it up in LA and drove across country to New Jersey and had it shipped to Germany. Carl was stationed there for four years. We went all over Europe first with one child and than two when Shantel came along.
VW used right after we got to Great Falls, Montana in 1968. It was a homemade conversion but we went all over in it. In 1970 we went to a Spring car show in Los Angeles and ordered the custom conversion Safari which compared to the Casper was luxurious. Chuck was almost five months old when we picked it up in LA and drove across country to New Jersey and had it shipped to Germany. Carl was stationed there for four years. We went all over Europe first with one child and than two when Shantel came along.
Great Times. Great Memories.
Saturday, December 1, 2007
9/29 - 10/1 Size Does Matter
This was our first si
ght of the Motor home when we drove up. Gary, the man that preps all the RVs bought through RV Direct, had it sitting in the entrance of this a very large warehouse. It's a van alright but Oh My Gosh it is a BIG van.
Before we even left Hawaii we had planned to stay in Elkhart for a few days to make sure everything was working okay and we felt comfortable enough to hit the road. We were also so grateful to Jodi and Jon that we were able to stay with them while we got set up.
After meeting with Gary we decided that was a good plan - there was much to learn. This was very sophisticated compared to what we had in the past. We felt very comfortable knowing we were 5 minutes from Gary if we had any questions or concerns. Over the three days we had tons of questions and Gary was more than patient with us.
ght of the Motor home when we drove up. Gary, the man that preps all the RVs bought through RV Direct, had it sitting in the entrance of this a very large warehouse. It's a van alright but Oh My Gosh it is a BIG van. Before we even left Hawaii we had planned to stay in Elkhart for a few days to make sure everything was working okay and we felt comfortable enough to hit the road. We were also so grateful to Jodi and Jon that we were able to stay with them while we got set up.
After meeting with Gary we decided that was a good plan - there was much to learn. This was very sophisticated compared to what we had in the past. We felt very comfortable knowing we were 5 minutes from Gary if we had any questions or concerns. Over the three days we had tons of questions and Gary was more than patient with us.
Elkhart is considered the Motor Home capital of the US. The campground is run by the city for people like us that are picking up their rig or are there having repairs done.
OK tomorrow we hit the road. The plan is 200 miles a day. The kids say at that rate we won't reach Oklahoma until New Years. Route 66 here we come.
Click on link for pictures of what the inside looks like:
9/ 27 -9/28 - Aloha Spirit in North Bend, Indiana
9/27 and 9/28 - 2007
We arrived in Chicago at 4:30 in the morning. We rented a car and drove to Elkhart, Indiana to pick up our Honu Hale. It was lunch time when we got there so we had to wait for Gary to get back. He spent almost 3 hours going over everything with us. It was gassed and ready to go but we weren't. It was just way too much information to process on top of jet lag. He assured us we could pick it up the next day. There was also a problem with the title and the corrected copy hadn't arrived yet.
Jodi Awaya, who I use to work with in Honolulu, had invited us to stay with them. They live in South Bend which was just 15 miles from Elkhart. They have two dogs named Kona and Kai and a beautiful Townhouse which is very close to Notre Dame. We went to a darling pub for dinner and drove around the campus which was very impressive. We ended up staying a second night because it took us forever to get all that we needed for the Motor Home and to return the Rental Car. By the time we got the Motor Home packed it was dark. We went to an Italian restaurant which was very good.
We had breakfast with Jodi at Perkins which is a very nice family restaurant that was located right next door to their place.
Hated to leave Jodi and Jon and their wonderful hospitality but we wanted to go back to Elkhart and actually stay in the Motor Home. We wanted to make sure all worked and most important we knew what we were doing.
We arrived in Chicago at 4:30 in the morning. We rented a car and drove to Elkhart, Indiana to pick up our Honu Hale. It was lunch time when we got there so we had to wait for Gary to get back. He spent almost 3 hours going over everything with us. It was gassed and ready to go but we weren't. It was just way too much information to process on top of jet lag. He assured us we could pick it up the next day. There was also a problem with the title and the corrected copy hadn't arrived yet.
Jodi Awaya, who I use to work with in Honolulu, had invited us to stay with them. They live in South Bend which was just 15 miles from Elkhart. They have two dogs named Kona and Kai and a beautiful Townhouse which is very close to Notre Dame. We went to a darling pub for dinner and drove around the campus which was very impressive. We ended up staying a second night because it took us forever to get all that we needed for the Motor Home and to return the Rental Car. By the time we got the Motor Home packed it was dark. We went to an Italian restaurant which was very good.
We had breakfast with Jodi at Perkins which is a very nice family restaurant that was located right next door to their place.
Hated to leave Jodi and Jon and their wonderful hospitality but we wanted to go back to Elkhart and actually stay in the Motor Home. We wanted to make sure all worked and most important we knew what we were doing.
Full Moon-Talk Story at Mauna Lani Resort
The Saturday after Thanksgiving we were invited by our neighbors Linda and Tony to go to the Mauna Lani Resort to attend the Talk Story session that they have monthly. We didn't quite understand what we were going to so we weren't dress for the evening coolness. The wind was blowing like crazy so it was more like "freezing".
This program happens once a month on the Saturday closest to the full moon. You never know who will be there but there is music, singing and talking story. We got there early and the crowd was assembling as you can see in the bottom picture. By the time it got dark and the program started there were tons of people all with beach chairs, mats, food and various liquids. The full moon was gorgeous as it came up through the clouds.
We were so lucky to be there when Raiatea performed. She is only 19 and is a multiple Na Hoku Hanohano Award (Hawaiian music Oscars-sort of). It cost big bucks to go to one of her concerts.
The format of the program is the performer sings or plays something then Danny Akaka (Senator Akaka's son) "talks story" with them. They are all sitting on rocking chairs on the front porch of the Cottage. Very informal but very special in the gorgeous surroundings. We were fascinated when Raiatea said she grew up in musical family on Molokai but they didn't sing in Hawaiian. When she went to her brother's Song Fest at Kamehameha school when she was 15 years old she heard someone sing in the old Hawaiian Falsetto. She fell in love with that type of music. She went back to Molokai and taught herself to play the Ukulele and to speak and sing in Hawaiian. Two years later at 17 she won her first Na Hoku Hanohano Award. Today she is a very famous performer both in Hawaii and Japan.
This program happens once a month on the Saturday closest to the full moon. You never know who will be there but there is music, singing and talking story. We got there early and the crowd was assembling as you can see in the bottom picture. By the time it got dark and the program started there were tons of people all with beach chairs, mats, food and various liquids. The full moon was gorgeous as it came up through the clouds.
We were so lucky to be there when Raiatea performed. She is only 19 and is a multiple Na Hoku Hanohano Award (Hawaiian music Oscars-sort of). It cost big bucks to go to one of her concerts.
The format of the program is the performer sings or plays something then Danny Akaka (Senator Akaka's son) "talks story" with them. They are all sitting on rocking chairs on the front porch of the Cottage. Very informal but very special in the gorgeous surroundings. We were fascinated when Raiatea said she grew up in musical family on Molokai but they didn't sing in Hawaiian. When she went to her brother's Song Fest at Kamehameha school when she was 15 years old she heard someone sing in the old Hawaiian Falsetto. She fell in love with that type of music. She went back to Molokai and taught herself to play the Ukulele and to speak and sing in Hawaiian. Two years later at 17 she won her first Na Hoku Hanohano Award. Today she is a very famous performer both in Hawaii and Japan.
Unfortunately we left at half time because we were freezing to death. We only had shorts and tee shirts on and the wind chill factor was at least 65. Even the tourist had jackets on. It was great and we are looking forward to going again in the near future.
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