Having only gone “RVing” once before for a weekend with the boys several years ago, some people might have thought Frank and I were crazy to sell everything, buy a motorhome and RV fulltime. However, Frank and I knew we could spend time alone together since we had been together 24hrs a day for the last couple of years without any problems.  So, we sold the house, bought the RV and set out on our fulltime adventure on June 10, 2021.  We love fulltime RVing and have no regrets.  There are some things we have learned along the way in the past six months.

            We bought a used, older diesel 45’ motorhome (2008) because it was a layout we loved, was in our price range, and had lots of storage.  Of course, the first few days (in our driveway), Frank had to start fixing some issues, which gave him time to figure out a lot of the systems.  Still, when we headed out there were some items still not working, including our leveling jacks.  Eventually he would replace the right parts and get them working. There are still some items that need to be worked on, but Frank keeps researching before starting on some of them.  For example, our dishwasher still isn’t working correctly.  Hopefully, that will be fixed soon – HINT HINT Frank! 😊

            On travel days we have developed a routine in which Frank takes care of the outside stuff: water, sewer hose, loading the bikes, car hookup, etc… while I take care of the inside: picking some items off the floor for the slides to come in, bringing in the slides, retracting the leveling jacks, etc… After the car is hooked up, I do the blinkers so Frank can check the lights.  There have been a couple of hiccups like forgetting to bring in the small awning over the door.  We just recently found out the engine must be turned off for the awning to work.  Who knew? 😊

            How do we decide where to travel and what to do?  That falls to me.  I ask Frank, but he just tells me wherever I want to go is fine and he says he likes what I’ve picked and what we’ve done.  I use the free app / website RV Parky to plot the general route for the year and to select possible campgrounds.  Based on people’s comments and suggestions, I make modifications. Due to RVing being so popular now, we must try to get reservations in advance as much as possible, so we can’t be as spontaneous as we might like.  State and national campgrounds must be paid for at the time of the reservations and many places require a deposit that varies from one night’s rent up to ½ of the total price. In some very popular areas, we have had to pay for those totally in advance, too.  Some campgrounds do have on-line booking, but there are still a lot that require a phone call to book a site. A few books are kept handy for me to refer to find some unique places or scenic drives, but I also use the internet. Before we arrive at a new place, I refer to Trip Advisor for the top sites / attractions to determine what would interest us.  If there are a lot of options, I usually ask Frank if he would like to do ….. or —- and he’ll give me his feedback. Recommendations for restaurants on Trip Advisor and Yelp are helpful and I also refer to the Diners, Drive-Thrus, and Dives App to see if there is anything in or near where we will be visiting. We have visited historic homes and museums, taken tours and hikes, sampled area specialties, and really enjoyed ourselves.

            We have determined there are three different types of groups in most campgrounds: permanent, stationary residents, travelers, and campers.  The permanent, stationary people chose to live in an RV for various reasons ranging from saving money, traveling for work assignments, and temporary situations that turned more permanent. They can usually be identified by the permanent steps, decks, and various outside items around their home. We are travelers since we like visiting places, trying new things, and learning about the area. However, at night, we like to be inside our home (the motorhome) on our comfy couch and recliner and watch TV together, read, etc… Campers are those that set up an entire outside living area. They tend to spend the first ½ hour to hour at the site hauling out chairs, rugs, grills, hammocks, firewood, lights, outdoor games, etc… The evenings and many times most of the days are spent outside and they usually have a fire going in the evening. While staying at Lake Livingston State Park for Christmas there were even people who put out Christmas blowups and Christmas lights for just a two-night stay.  Great that they have the spirit of the season, but that’s a lot of stuff to haul around and set up.  We are more minimalist in that area.  We did have a tiny tree inside, but that was the extent of our decorations this year since we spent Christmas day at our oldest son’s house. So, permanent, stationary residents, travelers, or campers – each is great and to each their own!  We will remain travelers and kudos to the permanent residents and campers!

            When we tell people that we fulltime RV, most people are fascinated and ask questions about it.  Many have expressed they want to do it, too or have friends and family that are fulltime.  The popularity has led to numerous Facebook groups, which are very helpful for those thinking of starting fulltime or those starting out.  People ask questions from how to fix something on their RV to what to do in various areas.  One thing I would recommend when joining any new group on Facebook is to use the search bar at the top of the group and search for what you want.  Trust me, 99% of the time the question has been previously addressed. It becomes rather tedious for those of us in these groups to keep seeing the same questions.  Only after going through the comments and posts that turn up after your search, should you pose your question.  I belong to an Instant Pot group, and it was so tedious to see the numerous posts: “I just got an Instant Pot, what should I do first?”  Please do some research before posing questions.  There are groups for everyone.  There are National Park groups in general and groups for specific national parks like Big Bend and Guadalupe Mts.  Also remember, that some people with no expertise do chime in because they “think” they know the answer.  I’ve asked Frank numerous times about some responses about electrical, etc… and he has shaken his head and told me the correct answer. As has been pointed out in these groups, do your research rather than just trusting total strangers.

            One of the big questions and decisions that must be made involves internet access.  Some parks offer free wi-fi and a few of them are really great.  Some of them buffer quite a bit but are useable for streaming TV shows.  Some are a total no-go.  State parks and National Parks do not offer Wi-Fi services, so while it saves money to camp there, we end up using more data from our plan.  We have a hot spot for Direct TV Stream which we use when there are no other options.  When we use that up, we start on the 40 gigs on Frank’s phone’s hot spot.   If we use all that, then we start using the 40 gigs on my phone’s hot spot.  Most of the time, it’s not a problem.  However, there have been a couple of places where we could not access any internet with our hotspots. It’s a good thing that Frank and I like reading, too. We try to always have a book or two downloaded on our personal digital devices.  This year’s adventure to the Rockies and more remote areas will probably test our internet access even more.  We have purchased a booster system, so we will see how that works out.  Who knows, we may end up like Robin Williams in the movie “RV” where he was on top of the RV with his arm stretched out trying to catch a signal. lol

            E-bikes intrigued us from the beginning, but we didn’t know if we were “bike people”; therefore, we bought a couple of used standard bikes in Cincinnati along with one for Bo for his visit.  They were okay, but I couldn’t do the hills and I really didn’t like my bike.  We determined we would have to go ahead and purchase the e-bikes. After reading a lot, we went to a few places to check some out.  Bike Lane in the Woodlands had a very helpful man that let us try out the Aventon Pace 350 and 500. While there we saw a big comfy looking seat on a bike, and I knew I needed that for my comfort. 😊 Aventon Pace 500 Step-Thru turned out to be the winners for us.  Pedago is a well known e-bike brand and highly thought of, especially by themselves.  For the price of one Pedago, we were able to buy our two Aventon’s on Cyber Monday with a $300 discount for buying two.  They arrived within a few days and were super easy to assemble.  A return trip to Bike Lane allowed us to purchase a heavy-duty hitch bike carrier and the large comfy seat.  E-bikes are heavy and require a heavy-duty bike carrier.  After a couple of days of riding them, Frank ordered him a slightly smaller version of my big comfy bike seat. On our very first day of riding the bikes, I took a tumble.  The road in the park had been repaved in the past year and there was a steep drop off. Of course, I found it when I turned to talk to Frank and got too close to the edge going about 11 miles an hour. (It’s a good thing I slowed down from 20 miles an hour.)  Frank says I bounced a few times and that it was a good thing I was wearing a helmet.  I skinned my left forearm up really bad, had three separate spots on my left knee, one on my right knee, one spot on each palm of my hands, a bruise on my left cheek and a goose egg on my left hip. Yikes!  I definitely left skin on that road! If you know about RV beds, you will know that we “climb” into them.  (Yes, we can walk around our king size bed, but we still have to climb in a little.) With scrapes on my left knee, forearm, etc… it was interesting to figure out a new way to climb in and out of the bed. I ended up climbing in by putting my right knee down (not on the scrape side) and flopping over into bed.  I had to climb out carefully so as not to hurt the scrapes on my palms since I place my hands on the side wall and pull.  It’s always an adventure. 😊  I did get back on the horse / bike and love it.  The kids gave us backpacks, fenders for my bike, and a rack for Frank’s bike for Christmas, so we are looking forward to more bike riding in our adventures this year. 

            Go West Texas RV Couple, Go West!  We will heed that advice and go west to Arizona before heading north.  Lots of national and state parks are on the agenda for this year.  It will be a matter of if the weather cooperates with us as to how much we will be able to see and do. On the list are: Big Bend, Davis Mts, Guadalupe Mts, Carlsbad Caverns, White Sands, Saguaro, Organ Pipe Cactus Monument, Petrified Forest / Painted Desert, Grand Canyon, Grand Staircase Escalante National Monument, Zion, Bryce, Capitol Reef, Canyonlands, Arches, Rocky Mountain National Park, Grand Tetons, Yellowstone, Glacier, and more……  We hope you will follow along on our adventures on our Facebook Page – The Texas RV Couple and we’ll try to do some more YouTube videos!

Till Next Time,

Beth Cervenka

Come Explore with Us!

            Having been to the Smoky Mountains on two previous occasions, I knew about Cade’s Cove and was excited to share it with Frank.  However, I learned this time about Clingmans Dome, which is closer to Cherokee, North Carolina.  Yes, something new and it would be the highest elevation in the Smoky Mountains.  I was game and we decided we would do it when we moved to another campground in Cherokee. We arrived, set up camp, and set out.                        

            We made a quick stop at the Visitor’s Center on the North Carolina side and then set out driving towards Gatlinburg with Clingmans Dome – our destination.  We were lucky enough to see a male and female elk on the way. There were observation points and Frank pulled over to accommodate my photo addiction. I had seen mention of there being a lack of parking spots at times at Clingmans Dome.  As we approached the area, we saw some people parked on the side of the road.  My first thoughts were oh no, we are going to have to hike into the Dome.  However, we kept driving to the parking area and found a space. Yay!  Good for us!

            Clingmans Dome Observation Tower, which is 45 feet tall, has been around since 1959, but I had never heard about it until this trip.  It is on the highest point in the Smokies and along the Appalachian Trail at 6,643 feet and straddles the North Carolina and Tennessee state line.  Wow!  I read it had a ramp up to it and that it was steep.  Looking at a picture of the dome and the ramp, I quickly thought, I can do that!  I did read that it was not wheelchair accessible due to it being steep.  Looking at the picture, I thought, “Well, the ramp isn’t that long.  I can do that.”

            Obviously, I only took in what I wanted to take in.  At the bottom, there was a sign saying there was a .5-mile trail to the dome.  Okay, a half mile isn’t so bad, and it’s paved.  We’re good.  Those were my thoughts for the first few SECONDS.  Quickly realizing this was much steeper than I anticipated and now knowing it was a half mile of steep incline, I became concerned.  However, I’m a hardheaded, determined person and I was bound and determined to conquer it. Even if I did huff, whine, puff, complain, and come up with various solutions to solve this problem along the way, there was never a thought of giving up.  Yes, we saw others give up and decide to “sit it out” while family members, etc. went on.  Luckily, there are benches every so often for people to sit and rest.  You can’t see the next one as you are climbing and rounding bends as you ascend this “path.”  I would spot a bench and just focus on it.  Every time someone else was sitting there, but that did not deter me. That bench would be my resting place.  Some people stopped and rested on some rocks or tree trunks, but I wasn’t so sure I’d make it back up from such low positions, so the benches were meant for me.

            Frank kept encouraging me with comments like, “Breathe in through your nose and exhale through your mouth.” The problem with that was that my nose was clogged up so when I tried that, I didn’t feel I was getting enough air and then my nose started running. His next words were, “If you stopped talking, it would be easier.” Really?  I’m coming up with all kinds of ways to “fix this problem” and you want me to stop?  My ideas were: an incline train, a ski lift, a tram, etc… I shared those ideas with anyone and everyone within my vicinity, especially to the people resting with me on the benches along the way.  Frank’s next words of advice were, “You don’t need to stop at that bench, you can make it.” “Yeah, well, I don’t want to “make it” just now. I want to rest and try to catch my breath.”  He didn’t suggest that one again.  His next words of encouragement were, “Slow and steady, slow and steady.” I reminded him that was why I was stopping at the benches. 

            Then low and behold, we saw the Appalachian Trail and the sign where it crosses the path up to Clingmans Dome.  That lifted my spirits, and I was even able to step down the trail so that Frank could take a picture of me “walking the Appalachian Trail.” You will notice the energy and enthusiasm I am displaying for the picture.  I then insisted we have pictures next to the sign.  He grudgingly agreed to have his picture taken by the sign but refused to pretend he was walking the trail.  Party pooper.  Oh well, I walked the Appalachian Trail, so there! 

            After the short, uplifting stop by the Appalachian Trail, there was more of the steep path to traverse.  Frank kept saying we would have to climb stairs up to the tower, but I knew that wasn’t true because I had seen the ramp.  After about two more bends in the path, we made it and saw the tower.  Thankfully, there was a circle at the bottom with benches around it so we could rest to prepare for the final trek up to the Dome.  While we were sitting there, I jokingly expressed my suggestions to the people gathered there about how that trek could be improved. They were all on board and we started talking and laughing about how much we would pay for such a conveyance and the price kept getting higher and higher as to what we were willing to pay. I must say that I expressed that the engineer who designed that “path of torture” should be shot.  Yes, that is a little violent, but I came up with that on the trek up, so I think that is forgivable given my lack of oxygen.   I will amend it to say he should be held accountable, and something should be put in place to help those of us who are not quite so “athletic” or who don’t hike every single day in the mountains. 😊

            The ramp to the dome was actually quite easy. The part I thought they had “warned” us about was not the worrisome part, it was the “path” / “trail” to it.  The temperature kept falling on the trek up and it had become a little chilly.  As we moved up the ramp, we really felt the wind.  We reached the top – YAY – and the mist, fog, “smoky” part of the mountains obscured everything but the tops of the very closest trees.  A little disappointing, but I had just climbed a half mile straight up (that’s my description and I’m sticking to it), so I was proud for just making it up there!  Yay me! (And Frank).  Frank wanted to hurry up and get down from the Dome and the ramp because he felt it was shaking and not very sturdy.  I really wasn’t concerned about that and took my pictures before agreeing to go down.  It was quite breezy up there.

            Going down was so easy compared to going up.  However, some people with bad knees have expressed that was the worse part for them.  I was probably still on my “high” from conquering the “path / trail / cliff climbing” that it felt easy.  When we reached the bottom, I was able to take some pictures of the view that were breathtaking.  No, I didn’t get any good pictures up top, but the ones at the bottom made up for it. 

            What did I learn?  Read a little more carefully, but honestly, I wanted to go up there and was determined to do it.  You might want to take a jacket because it is much cooler up there than at the parking lot.  Make use of the benches. Wheelchairs are not advised or allowed and there is a reason for that.  I still wish there was an alternative for those who aren’t in such great “hiking shape” so they can access the Dome.  They can still have the path so others can prove their “might” and physical prowess, but some accommodation for the rest would be nice. When I posted my little excerpt on my Facebook page, I shared it on the National Parks Fan Page.  Most people understood my humor (I used emojis) but one lady called me out and said it wasn’t bad and she did it regularly and she was in her 70s.  Kudos to her!  I’m not her!  I’ve had four back surgeries, I have spinal stenosis, and I’ve just started walking / “hiking” in the past few months.  I also don’t live in the mountains and “I’m not a mountain goat!” Altitude does play a role in this! 

            If you are going to the Smoky Mountains, and I recommend you do, be prepared for Clingmans Dome.  It’s okay to just take pictures from the parking lot.  Also, I recommend staying in the Cherokee, NC area rather than the Gatlinburg, TN area.  Cherokee is a little less “touristy” and is a lot less crowded.  My other words of advice if you are wanting to go during the fall for the changing of the leaves: look up when the Tennessee and North Carolina schools have “fall break.” There were a lot of kids in Gatlinburg and that’s when I learned about their fall break being the first or second week of October and we were here the second week of October. I think that was one of the reasons there were so many people, and it was so crowded.  You might want to try the third or fourth week of October.

            Do go to Clingmans Dome and make an attempt if you can. If not, there is not shame in parking lot pictures!

Till next time,

Beth Cervenka

Come Explore with Us!

            Back in the summer of 1991, I was selected to go to a seminar for teachers in Fairfax, Virginia. I was excited about it and since they were not paying my way there, I decided to do some sightseeing on my journey. I made some stops and one of those stops was in Nashville to see the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum.  However, the visit proved to be a little underwhelming. While in Nashville in late September 2021, Frank and I made plans to visit the museum. Recalling my previous visit, I hoped they had improved it in the last 30 years.  I am happy to report that they have definitely improved it and we greatly enjoyed our visit.

            The Country Music Hall of Fame was established in 1967 “to create a research and educational organization that would give the world an insider’s view into country music. The non-profit organization, Country Music Foundation, was chartered by the state in 1964 to collect, preserve and publicize country music artifacts and to showcase the history of country music. Through this foundation, the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum was established and since then, has grown and evolved into the iconic organization that it is today.” (From their website.) The Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum that I visited in 1991 no longer exists as it was demolished after a new and downtown building was opened in 2001. It was then more than doubled in 2014. The new building consists of 350,000 square feet, storage for archives, event space, and the Taylor Swift Educational Center.  They even have performance space in the CMA Theater and the Ford Theater.

            The new museum is a far cry from the one I recall visiting in 1991.  We started on the third floor which showcases the history of country music and the people who have played a role in its history.  It is well organized and flows nicely. We elected to purchase the audio tour and it greatly enhanced our experience.  Just like our Titanic visit, numbers were used to key in the audio for more information.  There are musical instruments, handwritten lyrics, posters from the Hatch Print Company, and costumes from performers through the years.  Recognizing people I had heard of and “knew” due to Hew Haw, Porter Wagner, and The Grand Ole Opry felt familiar and like I had “come home,” so to speak.  Of course, there were some that I had not heard of, but Frank knew most of those. 

            The second floor features the artist from 1960 to the present so there were a lot more that I was familiar with. Buck Owens, Loretta Lynn, Dolly Parton, Kris Kristofferson, Waylon Jennings and up to some of my favorites including Alabama, Garth Brooks and Brad Paisley. Interwoven in both the third floor and the second floor are some special exhibits on Martina McBride, Kacey Musgraves, and the exhibit “Outlaws & Armadillos: Country’s Roaring 70s featuring the “Outlaws of Country Music”: Waylon, Willie and the boys so to speak.  Frank accused me of reading every single thing in the Martina McBride and Kasey Musgraves exhibits, but the exhibits are well done and drew me in. I wish I had been able to view their past exhibits.  The museum has featured Jason Aldean, Carrie Underwood, Luke Bryan, Blake Shelton, Brad Paisley, Miranda Lambert, the Zac Brown Band, and Chris Stapleton in the past in their special exhibits “examining country music in the twenty-first century.” They have also featured Loretta Lynn, Bob Dylan, and Hank Williams, Jr.  As well as these featured exhibits are done, I wish I had seen the previous exhibits. 

            Definitely add the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum to your “Bucket List.” You won’t be disappointed.  We spent three and a half hours touring the museum and no, we did not read every plaque or see every video that was featured.  Allow plenty of time and you may want to take a break for a bit to eat or a drink on the first floor if you need a break.  There are different options in which you can add a tour of the Hatch Show Prints and / or the Historic RCA Studio B Tour.  We opted to just do the museum, but we did add on the audio portion. The basic price is $27.95 for an adult and tickets can be purchased online.  I definitely recommend buying tickets in advance online for any and all events these days due to limited times and limiting crowds. Check out the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum; I’m sure you will enjoy it!

Till next time,

Beth Cervenka

Come Explore with Us!

All of us of a “certain age” have heard of Laura Ingalls Wilder. We know her via her books, or the television series based on her books.  My introduction to Laura Ingalls Wilder occurred in elementary school. We only had one TV in our home, and it only had two channels, ruled by my father.  (We lived in the country and only had a TV antenna.) Therefore, if we didn’t want to watch what was decided by our father, we read. Also, I could be a little talkative in school (go figure), and the teachers soon learned that I always finished my work early and was tempted to talk. The surest way to keep me occupied was to let me read my library book.  In the fourth grade, the teacher and I had a kind of “telepathic” system. I would look up after I finished my work, catch her eye, and she would nod. Leaving the room with my library book from the day before, I would go across the hall, turn it in and pick out another. After returning to the classroom, I would immediately become engrossed in my new book.  I usually went through a book a day.  I read most of the history-oriented novels in the library. Thus, my love for history and reading kept me out of trouble at school and introduced me to Laura Ingalls Wilder.  Of course, I read all her books and I read them all before the fourth grade.

Laura Ingalls Wilder had one child, a daughter – Rose Wilder Lane.  I remember reading a small book she had written about her mother, but I just thought she was “riding on her mother’s coat-tails” so to speak.  When we visited the Laura Ingalls Wilder Home in Mansfield, MO, I found out I was so wrong about Rose.  In fact, Rose became well-known / famous before her mother started writing her books and it was Rose that encouraged her mother to write down the stories from her childhood.

            An interesting note, Rose Wilder finished her high school education while staying with her aunt – Eliza Jane Wilder in Crowley, Louisiana in 1904.  She was able to learn three years of Latin in one year and graduated at the top of her class of seven students. Due to her parents’ financial situation, Rose Wilder was not able to attend college. She did work as a telegraph operator in Mansfield, MO, Sedalia, MO, Kansas City, Indiana, and California.  While in California, she married Claire Gillette Lane and became pregnant. However, the baby boy was a stillborn and she was unable to have any more children.  While living a nomadic lifestyle with her husband, Rose was a voracious reader and taught herself several languages. In 1908, she began her writing career by writing occasional freelance newspaper jobs to earn extra money. In 1915, Rose served as an editorial assistant for the San Francisco Bulletin. However, her talents were not limited to editing and she began writing and had her photo and byline writing romantic serials that were published for weeks at a time. Rose even wrote firsthand accounts about the lives of Herbert Hoover, Henry Ford, Jack London, and Charlie Chaplin that were published. While her new career was flourishing, Rose and her husband amicably divorced in 1918.

            By the late 1920s, Rose Wilder Lane was “reputed to be one of the highest-paid female writers in America.” She also had a growing interest in world history and politics.  Rose easily found work as a “silent’ editor or “ghostwriter” for other writers in order to earn extra money. She was known for being generous with her friends and family building a new home for her parents. Today, known as the “Rock House,” it started out as a mail-order Sears & Roebuck house, but she had it customized and added electricity.  One series of articles she sold paid for the house and its customization. She even bought a car for her parents and taught her mother to drive it. She went on to modernize her parents’ farmhouse for her own use.  When you visit the Laura Ingalls Wilder home, you will see the farmhouse and the home that Rose had built for her parents.

            After WWI, Rose Wilder Lane worked as a traveling war correspondent and worked with the American Red Cross through 1965. She wrote for The Pittsburgh Courier, the most widely read black newspaper of the time from 1942-1948. She advocated anti-racism and laissez faire politics which lead to her being influential in the libertarian movement. In fact, Rose Wilder Lane, Isabel Patterson, and Ayn Rand have been called the “founding mothers” of the American Libertarian Movement. Rose returned to commercial writing when she reported from Vietnam for Woman’s Day magazine at the age of 78. 

While I made the visit to learn more about Laura Ingalls Wilder, I realized I already knew so much about her due to her books.  It was Rose Wilder Lane that caught my attention and piqued my interest.  It was through her connections that Laura Ingalls Wilder was published, which inspired many young girls through the years in her books, and even more in the TV series inspired by the books.  I do believe that I will be adding Rose Wilder Lane’s writings to my list of “to read.” I hope you will check out the Laura Ingalls Wilder home in Mansfield, Missouri and that you will learn more about her daughter – Rose Wilder Lane.

Until next time,

Beth Cervenka

Come Explore with Us!

Branson, Missouri has become a destination for many people in the last several decades and we wanted to check it out. When we first arrived, all the signage for the attractions and concert venues struck us as very touristy and a little bit like Vegas (minus the casinos 😊). Unfortunately, there were no “big” names preforming when we were there and just lots of “tributes” to various bands and performers, which was disappointing. However, we did want to check out some attractions and the Titanic Museum was on the top of the list. (They did not allow photography inside the museum, so those photos come from their website.)

           One of the first attractions that is hard to miss in Branson, is the Titanic Museum, which is done in the shape of the ship and even has an “iceberg” along the side.  This attraction was certainly on our list of must-sees, and it did not disappoint. I did wonder why there was a Titanic Museum in Branson, which is landlocked. According to their website, “The Branson Titanic Museum is one of two Titanic-themed museums owned by John Joslyn, who was part of a 1987 undersea expedition to explore the ship’s remains. While the ship-shaped museum seems huge, the exterior is built to half-scale of the actual Titanic.”  Due to the pandemic, we purchased our tickets online and received our “boarding time.” As we were “boarding” we were each handed a card with a person’s name, his / her biography, and if the person was a first-, second-, or third-class passenger.  We were instructed to keep our eyes open as we toured the museum to find out the fate of our characters.  Frank’s card was for the ship’s barber, who was a part of the crew. My card indicated I was a first-class passenger – a lady of means.  I was pretty sure “my” character would survive but was a little worried about Frank’s character. 

            We were also given audio “wands” and told that whenever we encountered a number along the way, we were to key the number into the wand to hear more information about what we were seeing.  Youth and children had different numbers for their audio tour at times.  I thought that was a neat idea to have special audio aspects for them to keep them interested.

            Seeing the grand staircase was impressive but what I found eye-opening was the floor in the area before the grand staircase was the most expensive material at the time. No, it wasn’t marble or granite or any kind of stone. It was linoleum square tiles.  What?  Yes, the linoleum tiles that everyone had in their homes, schools, and stores at one time and are now considered so cheap that no one wants them, was the most expensive flooring material at the time the Titanic was built in 1911 and 1912.  Go figure. 

  Personal effects of passengers and passengers’ biographies where interesting. There was an entire room devoted to the musicians and we learned there was more than one band on board, so when “the band played on”, they aren’t exactly sure which musicians those were.  There was an area for various crew members and there we found Frank’s character – Gus, the barber.  I was relieved to learn he would survive the voyage and continue his career as a ship’s barber.  Whew! 

            In one part they show angled “decks” to show what the pitch of the deck would be like at various times as the ship went down.  Some kids loved trying those out, but I really had to hold on to the rails to try to even take a step or two up the inclines and that was with rails on both sides that I could reach.  Imagine with only one rail or if I had no access to the rails at all.  I believe I would have been sliding back and into the water as the ship went down.

            The museum picks a different group each year to focus on for special exhibits and this year they featured the Jewish passengers and crew.  There was even a kosher kitchen and chef on board. An odd little connection is that Anne Frank’s father – Otto Frank – had gone to college in Heidelberg with Nathan Straus Jr. (whose friends called him “Charley”), the son of the founder of Macy’s department stores. (Straus’ parents famously went down with the Titanic when his mother refused to leave his father behind.) They became good friends and remained in contact.  Otto Frank enlisted Straus’ help in trying to leave Europe for America, but the destruction of the American Embassy in the Netherlands and the U.S. entering the war thwarted those efforts.

            As I had assumed, my character did make it off the ship and survived.  We spent about two hours going through the Titanic Museum and we recommend it. Be sure to wear comfortable shoes because you will be standing and strolling the entire time. While it did have audio wands and some exhibits that would appeal to children, I would not take young children or any child that wasn’t really fascinated by the Titanic.  My grandson, who is 10 is fascinated by the Titanic, so I would have taken him. Be sure to check out the Titanic Museum in Branson!

Until next time,

Beth

Come Explore with Us!

            Early in the 1980s, my parents and some other church members went to Eureka Springs, Arkansas to see The Great Passion Play.  I remember my mother talking about how the crucifixion of Christ looked so realistic and how she wondered how they managed the ascension of Christ because it looked so realistic. Since our plans had changed and we would have more time in Bentonville, Arkansas, I looked into tickets to The Great Passion Play in nearby Eureka Springs.

            As I browsed the website, I noticed they had tours of The Holy Land, a Backstage Tour, and we could eat dinner there.  It sounded great to me, so I booked our tickets for Wednesday, July 13, 2021 – or so I thought.  July 13 was actually a Tuesday, so I had the wrong day, but I wouldn’t realize that until we were at the site and were “late” for the Holy Land Tour.  What?  The play was on Tuesday night, and we arrived on Wednesday – OOPS!  Thankfully, the organization was willing to let us come back at anytime to use our tickets for the backstage tour, dinner, and play.

            On the way to Eureka Springs, we stopped at the Mildred Cooper Memorial Chapel, which is one of the Glass Chapels in Arkansas located in Bella Vista. We then stopped at Thorncrown Chapel in Eureka Springs, the first glass chapel in Arkansas.  Both are beautiful and we have now seen all three glass chapels in Arkansas having seen the Anthony Chapel in Hot Springs earlier.  They are open and are available for weddings. They even have “elopement” packages. If you are in the area, please visit them.

            When we arrived at The Great Passion Play, we didn’t stop at the gift shop but instead drove on down to the Christ of the Ozarks statue.  After walking around and viewing how it was built, we stopped in the little chapel nearby, saw a section of the Berlin Wall, and an Israeli Bomb Shelter. We headed back to the entrance of the Holy Land, and it stated thought the Holy Land tours started every 45 minutes, which would be 2:45, but we saw no tours.  I called the office to learn that we were late as the tour started at 2:00. That was my first inkling that something wasn’t right.  They told us we could walk down to the Tabernacle to catch up to the tour, so we headed out.

We caught up with the tour and in the course of events we learned this was not a “play” day.  What?  Oh, well, we went on with the tour and learned so much by the very informative guide.  (FYI: The guide kind of looks like a chubby Garth Brooks. I told him that when we returned for the play, much to my husband’s chagrin. lol) The guide informed us that they had taken trips to the Holy Land and tried to make things as authentic as possible. Several of the buildings and sets have been used in various Biblical movies. It was interesting to see the well that they walked into to dip their vessels and learn it was the place to learn all the “news” of the town.  We also learned that the Lord’s Supper would not have looked like we see in the famous painting as there were specific places for people to sit based on who the person of honor was and sitting traditions of the day. The Holy Land Tour is worthwhile, and we recommend it. Their website explains, “The Holy Land Tour is not like anything you have ever experienced. Walking through a life-sized replica of the Eastern Gate in Jerusalem into an authentic Marketplace, you will feel as if you are in the actual Holy Land. Tours are from 12:00pm to 3:45pm on days of Play performances and there are special guided tours every day but Sunday by advanced reservation. Do not miss experiencing Biblical life with your own eyes with cisterns, sheep pens, guard towers, and a full-scale replica of the Tabernacle.”

            We returned to Eureka Springs on the next Tuesday (an actual play day) and participated in the Backstage Tour.  We had the same guide that had done the Holy Land tour on our previous visit.  I knew my mother would want to know how they managed the ascension of Jesus, so I listened but forgot to take a picture. The person portraying Jesus dons a harness that goes between and around each of his legs and around his waist. The robe he wears has slits on both sides to allow him to attach the harness to two cables that are powered by two separate motors.  The guards hide him as he attaches himself. One motor pulls him up and the other motor pulls him back allowing him to ascend up and back at the same time until he disappears into the trees.  It is very effective, and I looked forward to telling my mother I knew the secret.

            The flogging done to Jesus is very realistic and they do actually hit him, and it does leave welts on the actor. We saw the costume room and learned at one point the actor portraying Jesus must really run to go from one set to another, so they added a door just for him to make it a shorter distance.  The door has a sign that reads “Not an Exit Jesus Only,” which was rather funny. We learned that the sheep that run through the set on three different occasions know where to go because they are fed in the different locations each time they run through.  A tour of the barns introduced us to the donkeys, doves, horses, and the camel.  The backstage tour is very eye opening, and I highly recommend it.

            After our backstage tour, we went to a dinner buffet and there were three pre-shows. The first one is serious and is called The Potter’s Parable, the second, David, the Shepard, is humous but is also enlightening. The third is done in the stands before the play and an artist sculps the bust of Christ as he gives his talk.  All were well done.  We did not visit the museums and gift shops, but I would recommend that you allot the time to check them out.

The play. Wow!  The lighting and sound and the sets really make this play outstanding. Even though the play has been performed since 1968, they change it every year and have added to the sets.  If you haven’t seen it before, you should go. If you haven’t seen it in many years, you should return.  As their website states, “Staged in an outdoor amphitheater, the multi-level set, special lighting and sound effects, live animals, and a cast of over 100 Biblically costumed actors come together to create the thrilling epic drama of Jesus Christ’s last days on earth.”

Northern Arkansas and specifically northwest Arkansas has a lot to offer, and The Great Passion Play is one of those.  There are even various mountain bike trails on the mountain that is home to Christ of the Ozarks and The Great Passion Play.  Plan on spending a full day or even more time there to enjoy all there is to offer in Eureka Springs.

            When originally determining our route north towards Indiana, where my mother lives, I thought we would go to Hot Springs, explore a little of western Arkansas and head to Branson, Missouri.  I posted a tentative route on my Facebook page and asked for suggestions.  My friend, Daniela Lankford, the librarian at Klein Oak High School, suggested we check out Bentonville and seeing Crystal Bridges Museum.  I knew the Walmart owner had lived around Bentonville, but I had never heard of Crystal Bridges Museum, so I did some investigation on her suggestion.  I’m so glad we followed her recommendation to go to the Bentonville.  We ended up staying in Bentonville five days since we did not like the previous place we were and left early. Bentonville and nearby Bella Vista were definitely a nice surprise for us. 

            Most people have heard of Sam Walton and his building of the Walmart empire.  He started out owning a Benjamin Franklin franchise in downtown Bentonville, Arkansas and that original building is now the home of the Sam Walton and Walmart Museum, which is free to the public.  It seems that the Walton family has invested in the town of Bentonville as their headquarters are located in Bentonville and their large complex of buildings includes a childcare facility, a dining hall, conference center, a gym and even an introductory mountain bike trail.  Mountain Bike Trail? Yes, that’s right!  In fact, the Walton family played a part in making Northwest Arkansas the Mountain Bike Capital of the World.

            Tom Walton, the grandson of the Sam Walton – the founder of Walmart, became a mountain bike enthusiast while attending college in Flagstaff, Arizona. Tom Walton brought his newfound love back to Northwest Arkansas and worked to make the area “the country’s best fat tire riding destinations,” according to Pike’s Peak Outdoor Recreation Alliance. The Walton Family Foundation, of which Tom Walton is the Home Region Program Committee Chair, has invested heavily in the building of 260 miles of both singletrack and paved trails in Northwest Arkansas.  The Walton Family Foundation also funds the maintenance of those trails.  Now, neither Frank or I have ever been big bike riders, but some of those trails are really enticing and we are considering purchasing e-bikes for Christmas.  (Remember, we are not athletes, nor do we want to be. lol) Once we have our e-bikes, I believe we will be revisiting the Bentonville area ready to hit the trails – the easy, paved ones of course. 😊

            Another Walton, Alice Walton, the daughter of Sam Walton, has a love for art and she led the charge in the Walton Family Foundation’s involvement in founding the Crystal Bridge Museum of American Art in Bentonville, Arkansas.  Personally, I have grown to enjoy and appreciate art over the years, but I’m by no means a “true” lover of art or very knowledgeable.  I know about some of the early American artists due to teaching them in my American history classes for many years.  However, when going to new places, I don’t automatically think about going to art museums.  Afterall, I’ve seen the National Portrait Museum, the Louvre, the Houston Fine Arts Museum, and many smaller art museums and exhibits…  I’ve seen works by famous artists and I appreciate them, but many times the cost of attending art museums seems a little steep. The Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art has solved that problem because they do not charge an admission.  Imagine, a free museum of American art so that everyone can see works by some of our most famous artists.  The buildings themselves are works of art / architecture and there are numerous walking trails outside featuring sculptures.  They even had a Clementine Hunter painting which I was excited to view.  Hunter, a primitive artist that lived near Melrose Plantation in Natchitoches Parish, was given an Honorary Doctorate from Northwestern State University in 1986, when I graduated. Two of my students also did a History Fair project on her that place third in the state competition.  

            To top off our visit to the Crystal Bridges American Art Museum, I was able to view my first Frank Lloyd Wright home in person.  The Walton Family Foundation purchased a Frank Lloyd Wright home, disassembled the house and reassembled it there on the grounds of the Crystal Bridges American Art Museum and it is also free.  Now, the Frank Lloyd Wright style is not my style, but I appreciate it and it was a joy to tour it in person. I found out that he is responsible for the term carport since he didn’t like garages that would house “junk.” The Walton family seems to be taking care of their hometown by providing jobs, art, culture, and mountain trails that contribute to making it a tourist destination. 

            Since our visit, I’ve urged some people I know who love to bike to visit Bentonville and I hope they will.  However, you don’t have to be a biking enthusiast to appreciate the area and enjoy your visit.  The weather was very nice when we visited in June, and we enjoyed walking some of the trails that are meant for bikes and walkers.  We highly recommend the Crystal Arts Museum and the Sam Walton Museum.  You can’t beat free!  Oh, be sure and buy an ice cream cone next door to the Sam Walton Museum, it’s good and fairly cheap!

Until Next Time,

Beth Cervenka

Come Explore with Us!

            On what I thought was July 13, but was actually July 14, we headed to Eureka Springs, Arkansas to tour the Holy Land, gain insights by participating in the Backstage Tour, and view the famous Passion Play.  I was confused and it wasn’t the day of the play, but that’s another story.  On the way, I spotted a sign about Martin Greer’s Candies and pointed it out to Frank.  Chocolate was calling out to me, so as we came upon the store (in the middle of nowhere), we had to stop.  I reminded Frank that this was one of the reasons we chose this life – to be able to do spontaneous stops and enjoy. I sure did want some chocolate. Little did I know that this stop was going to really brighten our day.

            The first thing I noticed was the sign which indicated it was a father and son tradition.  I love stories like that. The very next thing I noticed where all the beautiful flowers sprawling everywhere in front of the small shop; of course, I had to take some pictures of them.  As we entered the small shop, we could see glass towards the back where workers were making candy.  There were also displays behind the glass with all sorts of chocolate delights.  How was I going to narrow down my choices and not spend a fortune?

As I looked around, I noticed several vivid paintings on the walls. A young lady came out to help us and explained that the largest one showed the original Martin Greer, Sr, his son, Martin Greer, Jr., and his son as toddler, in a room making candy.  She followed this up by pointing out that the owner of the shop was the artist and had done all the artwork in the shop.  That is not something you usually find in a candy shop, especially out in the middle of nowhere.

            About that time, an elderly man with a walker came into the shop from a side door.  The employee introduced us to Martin Greer, Jr, who began to chat with us. Originally born in Texas, because his father was in the military, we learned that his father began making candy in 1924. Just think, that is almost 100 years ago.  Mr. Greer was proud to say that he was 82 years old.

            Frank tells me I talk to too many strangers, but he chatted quite a bit with Mr. Greer on this occasion.  Mr. Greer pointed out some booklets on the side wall that he was selling, and I had to purchase the one about his years as a candy maker.  (He even includes his business plan in it.) When we told him we had retired and I had been a teacher, we learned the Mr. Geer had been an art teacher, principal, and superintendent.  He also happened to be Dr. Greer. He told us a little about the family history of making candy and then invited us to his studio next door.  I felt so privileged to follow him to his studio.

            The studio is covered in art, papers, some pottery, and the usual debris of having lived a creative life. Dr. Greer told his about his first job teaching art and how he was certified to teach elementary, but they wanted him to teach high school.  So, while teaching his first year, he had to go back to school to become certified for secondary education.  We commiserated over funding for schools and his first year he was allotted two cents for every art student for supplies.  That’s right – two cents.  In order to help with the funding of art supplies, Dr. Greer and his students produced animated films that were shown for an admission price and they also produced some puppet shows to augment the art fund. He even had some old 16 mm film in canisters of those animated films. 

            Dr. Greer was proud to show us a few pottery pieces he had done and how level they were on the bottom with a ridge.  I don’t know much about pottery, but evidently that was a big deal and he accomplished it on his first pieces. I nodded and smiled like I knew what he was talking about and complimented him on his pieces. 

            We learned during our time there that Dr. Greer’s wife had passed just the week before and he was grieving.  By reading his booklet, I learned that it was his second wife, and she is the one who insisted that the front had to have flowers and look inviting.  According to him, he would have been fine with fake grass.  lol

            Martin Greer’s Candies are made using “the best chocolate you can buy” and by “staying true to the recipes.  In his booklet, Dr. Greer states, “The recipes came from Rigby’s Reliable Teacher, published in 1897, and the recipes published by Bakers Chocolate in 1820.  Hand dipping is better than machine run chocolates.” Dr. Greer’s father’s advice was, “If your product is not better than what people can get at a store like Walmart, then the people will have no good reason to buy what you are making.”  They use Peter’s Chocolate, a milk chocolate, which was invented in Switzerland in 1875.  There is a lot of history behind these candies.

                Of course, Frank and I bought chocolate; I just forgot to take pictures of it before we ate it. Oops! We bought two pieces we could have right away in the car that had caramel, peanuts, and milk chocolate. YUM!  I had to have a small container of Rocky Road Fudge, and then an assorted box.  They make all the candies there in that shop, package them and even ship them.  According to his booklet, he has the tourist trade passing by in the summer, the locals buy from him around the holidays, and there is the shipping of his chocolates to the tourists who fall in love with his candies. I highly recommend Martin Greer’s Candies!

  If you are ever in northern Arkansas, please put Martin Greer’s Candies on the list of must stops.    You might not be as lucky as we were to meet Dr. Greer and see his studio, but you will surely love the chocolates! 

https://martingreerscandies.com/

Until next time,

Beth Cervenka

Come Explore with Us.

The words “walking” and “hiking” are not associated with either Frank or me – at least they were not before we started our fulltime RV journey.  Now we find ourselves walking / hiking on a pretty regular basis. On our second day in Hot Springs, we headed out to Garvin Woodland Gardens and discovered a perfect place for walking and enjoying nature.  (Sadly, the entire time I lived in the Houston area, I never visited Mercer Arboretum and Botanic Gardens.  That will have to change!  It is now on my list of things to do when we return to the Houston area.) The Garvin Woodlands Gardens was a wonderful experience for us, and I hope you will check them out when you are in the Hot Springs area.  (I hear Christmas time is just “magical.”)

            The weather was just perfect! Not hot and not cold, simply perfect.  We did arrive shortly after they opened at 10 a.m.; we walked the gardens, and I took a lot of photos as we followed the paths.  The hardest part was a slight incline up to a lookout point.  Don’t get me wrong and think we hiked the entire area. There is an “undeveloped” area known as the Hixon Family Nature Preserve that had a long trail around it and is noted for its birding opportunities.  We did not venture into that area or that trail.  The two miles and approximately two hours we spent was just right.  (There were lots of stops for photos and enjoying nature.)

            According to the Garvan Woodland Gardens website, the land for the gardens was clear cut in 1915 and Mrs. Verna Cook Garvan vowed never to let it be cut again.  According to the garden’s website, “Mrs. Garvan’s father had operated Wisconsin-Arkansas Lumber Co. and the brick company (Malvern Brick and Tile) before his premature death in 1934. Shortly afterward, she assumed control of the company’s various holdings as one of the first female CEO’s of a major southern manufacturing business and served in that capacity until her retirement in the 1970’s.”  That would be impressive today, but it is even more impressive that she did this in the 1930s. Mrs. Garvin had a rather interesting life. Her first husband, Lonnie Alexander, tried to commit her to a psychiatric ward in Florida when they were going through their divorce. OH MY! Finally, the divorce was settled, and she remarried in 1960 to Patrick Garvan, Jr. a wealthy man from New York.  They decided to remain in the Hot Springs area where they met.

In 1956, after the demise of Verna Garvan’s first marriage, she began developing the land into gardens and considered making it a future residence as it bordered Lake Hamilton. The plans for a home were scratched when her second husband passed in 1972.  She marked every tree and laid out all the paths. All the new plants were chosen by Mrs. Garven and she selected each location. She worked on the gardens for 40 years introducing thousands of plants. There are more than 160 different types of azaleas, so I would love to revisit the gardens in the spring when they are blooming. Mrs. Garvin chose award winning architect E. Fay Jones, of Thorncrown Chapel fame, and his business partner, Maurice Jennings, to design an open-air pavilion of native stone and redwood. It was under construction when Mrs. Garvin passed in 1993. She left the property to the Department of Landscape Architecture through the University of Arkansas.

            The paths are mostly shaded and are either paved or are packed gravel. Visitors are allowed to bring dogs on a leash for a $5 fee.  If I lived in the area, I would certainly purchase a membership and use it for walking and enjoying nature.  Please remember, before we started this RV life, I never walked.  I guess I’m starting to like nature and enjoy walking in different places.  Who knew?  As I told Frank, every area is different and interesting.  It’s not like walking in a subdivision where you just pass the same houses every time and of course in Houston in the summer, it is HOT!   

            There are different areas in the gardens with various styles of bridges as there are numerous small waterfalls. A children’s area features a maze of rocks for them to figure out, plus a waterfall and man-made cave. To top that area off, there is a treehouse bridge.  What child wouldn’t like that? Be sure to take your young children; they will enjoy the children’s area, the bridges, the waterfalls, and skipping down the paths.

Anthony Chapel, one of the famous “glass chapels” is located at Garvin Woodland Gardens.  Maurice Jennings, who worked with E. Fay Jones to design Thorncrown Chapel in Eureka Springs in 1979, and the Mildred Cooper Chapel in Bella Vista, mainly designed the Anthony Chapel, the largest of the three glass chapels in Arkansas. It is gorgeous and a perfect place for a wedding for those with the money to pay for the venue.  I always thought the chapel was open air due to the way it looked in photos, but it is glass, six stories tall, and can seat 160 guests. (They do offer cheaper “elopement” packages.)

Photo courtesy of the Garvan Gardens Facebook Page.

            I don’t want to give it all away, but I urge you to check out Garvin Woodlands Gardens if you are in the Hot Springs area or even make a special trip to check it out. It is a $15 fee per person and children 4-12 cost $5 each. Those that aren’t able to walk the paths can do a Golf Cart Ride tour for an additional $15 per person.

Until Next Time,

Beth

Come Explore with Us!

            Hot Springs National Park boasts several hiking trails, and it is close to the town of Hot Springs.  Having been to the area back in 2004, I was familiar with Bathhouse Row, but I had not been to all the other attractions in the area.  Since we would be here for about eight days, I wanted us to take our time and leisurely discover the area.

On our first full day, we did a morning hike on a trail out of Gulpha Gorge Campground in Hot Springs National Park. I thought we were on a short trial, but I was confused, and we were on a different one. Evidently, we should have turned right and we turned left, oh, well.  I really wish they would put one of those large plexiglass covered maps at the trail points with the “You Are Here” marker like they do at the malls. Maybe I would be less confused. lol.  

The trail we took was well defined, but it was uphill the entire way.  Remember, I’m not a mountain goat.  lol.  We walked and enjoyed the natural habitat until we intersected with another trail. Since it was our first day out, I thought it best that we turn around rather than risk overdoing it.  It was easier going downhill, but it was getting hotter by this time.  We returned to the coach to have lunch and chill for a while.  After all, we needed to recover from our hike.  😊

            We decided to do the 6 pm Duck Tour around Hot Springs, which is run by the National Park Service.  I’ve always loved the Duck Tours, or really any tour of areas I’ve visited because they give a lot of unique information about the area, and I learn quite a bit. It’s always nice to look without having to worry about driving, traffic, and navigating an unknown area. 

            Our driver was a local firefighter, and he was knowledgeable and didn’t insist that we “quack” when he told a joke.  He would just say a sarcastic, quiet “quack” after he told a joke. He wasn’t the most personable duck driver / guide I’ve ever experience, but it was 6 pm and it was fine. We drove down the main area, including Bathhouse Row, and then out on the lake where the “Duck” becomes amphibious, and we motored around the lake. Some homes of the wealthy and the significance of the home and / or person owning the property were pointed out. It was a nice time to be on a lake. If you’ve never taken a duck tour or any tour of a place you are visiting for the first time, I highly recommend them.  You will learn so much more and see so much more.  I like taking them first to get a “feel” or “lay” of the land, so to speak. Most of them also point out great places to eat, including local favorites. The Duck Tour guide did point out a “home cooking” restaurant – Phil’s that was only open until 6 pm.  We did take his recommendation and eat there on another day. Our guide even pointed out the “Duck” graveyard.  They buy the old Ducks from around the country that are no longer working and use them for parts.  The Ducks are from WWII and have been modified for their purposes, but they are no longer produced.  The Duck Tour was $25 a person, which is a little steep, but then again prices are rising on everything.

            We enjoyed our Duck Tour and definitely recommend it for later in the day if you are there in the summer.  Remember, it is a metal vehicle / boat.  There is a covering, but it does get warm.  😊

Until Next Time,

Beth

Come Explore with Us!