2023 Fall Adventure Part 2: Around the Homestead and Local Area

On August 8, 2024August 6, 2024 By LToddIn Missouri, RV Travel, Travel5 Comments

Continuing with our travels in the fall of 2023, we shine a spotlight on Laura, our daughter, her family, and their homestead.

Jackson, Laura, Chris, Maya, and the chicks

Around the homestead

Their land is home to a variety of animals, from deer to frogs, mountain lions to turtles, various snakes, and other critters too many to mention. Other than hearing the frogs at night and seeing armadillo roadkill on the roadside, we saw a turtle outside our kitchen window one morning and waking up to chirping birds was also a treat.

During our visit, we could find Laura making bread, driving the tractor, shoveling dirt in her garden, tending to the chicks, or engaged in other household chores. She even removed a tick from my neck. I guess the beauty and the benefits of living off the land have chased away her fear of spiders, which once induced blood-curdling screams when she was a child. We’re proud of what she’s accomplished and how she’s carved out her space in the world.

The baby chicks not only fascinated us, they entertained us. We laughed as the baby chicks scratched around in the dirt, climbed over each other, ate their meals, and flicked dirt on themselves when taking dust baths.

Chris was under pressure to complete the chicken coop on wheels in time for the brood to move in. Fortunately, he made it on time.

Jackson and Maya taking a break in the shade

We also enjoyed goofing around while grabbing a meal at Cafe Cusco on C-Street in Springfield, Missouri.

Great lunch at The Little Clay House Tea Room

Although there was plenty of work to do around the house, we managed to take time to explore a few sights while there.

Hidden Waters Nature Park

Nearby is Hidden Waters Nature Park, a segment of the Trail of Tears. Through journals, it was determined that in 1837 the B. B. Cannon group, composed of Cherokee Nation people, passed through the Hidden Waters acreage and used the spring to replenish their water supply.

The 11.3-acre park includes walking trails, ponds, gardens, and plenty more. The Callaway Cabin survived the devastating 1880 tornado and 170 years of development. The cabin stands as a reminder of the modest living pioneers carved out for themselves as they settled in Missouri.

The park is where fourteen springs provide a constant flow of water to the headwaters of the West Fork of the Niangua. After combining with several rivers and tributaries, the water flows into the Gulf of Mexico.

Planning for the park began in 1998 when Dan and Zoann Beckner purchased three acres of land in the center of Marshfield. The couple had something besides a planned housing development in mind for the property. They added a trail, built three bridges to cross the streams, and enlarged three of the natural ponds. Jack Watters, a city alderman, persuaded the city to establish the acreage as a park in 2003.

Come armed to repel mosquitoes. I was not prepared, and the pesky mosquitoes feasted on my legs and arms.

Downtown Marshfield

Our visit coincided with Marshfield’s Harvest Festival, which gave us a chance to check out the town square surrounding the Webster County courthouse. The town of approximately 7,600 had a good turnout, with vendors lining the sidewalk selling their wares, along with food and drink trucks offering refreshments. The music and singing added a lively energy to the atmosphere.

Memorials for those who lost lives during war times are a common site in any town, and Marshfield is not an exception.

What’s that? The Hubble Space Telescope? How is it related to Marshfield, Missouri? A quick search revealed the telescope was named after Edwin Hubble who was born in Marshfield, Missouri, in 1889. It was his discovery and study of the Andromeda Nebula that led to the knowledge that the galaxy in which we live is but one galaxy among millions in the universe. Hubble also has a road named after him in Marshfield.

This Replica of the Hubble Telescope honors Edwin Hubble who was born in Marshfield, Missouri and is 1/4 the size of the actual Hubble still in space

And here are a couple shots of the downtown buildings.

Round Hay Bales

On our way back from the harvest festival, I saw something I’ve waited years to learn more about: round hay bales. I know, it’s silly, but all I ever saw were the cylinder-shaped boulders of hay in fields. I wanted to know how the farmers created those huge round bales. So we drove back to the farm where we saw the men and equipment working.

This piece of equipment rakes the cut hay into a long row.

Then another piece of equipment comes by and vacuums up the hay until it’s full. The equipment wraps a netting around the bale and . . .

Voila! Out pops a round hay bale.

The bales can range from 1.2 to 1.8 meters wide and weigh up to 2,200 pounds (1,000 kg). One large round bale is equivalent to 10 – 15 square bales. Finally, my curiosity satisfied.

Beyond Marshfield

Fair Grove Heritage Reunion

A trip to Fair Grove Heritage Days sounded like a fun outing. The exhibits featured a demonstration of a McCormick threshing machine, a lineup of historic tractors, and another tractor with a pulley that might be a log splitter. I’m not sure.

As with most community celebrations, vendors displayed their items for sale under canopies while others sold food or drinks. And the few stores that occupied the buildings had their doors open for business.

The Duke School is named after the first teacher, Chatham Duke, who was known to use the rod a time or two during his tenure. The original schoolhouse was built in 1846.

The replica school building was reconstructed in 1979 from a log building once owned by Mr. Duke.

I think the antique tractor with the pulley in the photo below had something to do with wood, perhaps log splitting? I noticed a bunch of split wood piled up in stacks.

The heat finally got the best of us, so we didn’t stay too long. A few days later, Laura and I returned to Fair Grove to pick up a dresser she saw, and I spent a few minutes taking photos of the place without the crowds.

I wish the museum would have been open. I can only imagine what treasures hide behind the barn doors.

Askinosie Chocolate Candy Factory

It doesn’t matter how large or small a factory is; we are suckers for a tour of the facilities. The Askinosie Chocolate micro factory did not disappoint. They’re on the famous Commercial Street (also known as C Street) in Springfield, Missouri.

Our guide led the way to where the cocoa beans arrive from around the world. They only use beans from small cocoa farmers who prioritize sustainability, following a Direct Trade approach.

Our guide explained the different types of chocolate and beans

We donned our hair nets before entering the processing section, where our guide detailed the purpose of each machine’s role.

On to the lab, where all the magic happens.

Although I had fun during the tour and found the information interesting, I don’t remember much about the process and that’s okay. I do remember how the chocolate felt on my tongue as it melted in my mouth. Oh, no. Now I have a craving. I better take a break from typing and order a supply of Askinosie chocolate bars.

After our tour, we checked out a couple of buildings nearby on C Street where visitors will find galleries, shops, dining, and regular events to explore.

Up Next: Wonders of Wildlife Museum & Aquarium, Wild Animal Safari, then a trip to the Clinton Presidential Library in Little Rock, Arkansas

Safe Travels

2023 Fall Adventure Part I: Travel to Marshfield, Missouri

On June 13, 2024June 12, 2024 By LToddIn Colorado, Kansas, Missouri, Nevada, RV Travel, States, Travel, Utah7 Comments

The first destination on our 2023 Fall Adventure was Marshfield, Missouri, where our daughter, Laura, and her family had settled into their new home. Her hope chest didn’t fit in their moving pod when her husband, Chris, loaded up their belongings, so we volunteered to deliver it. We’d figure out where to go and what to see after the delivery once we made the 7-day trek.

We hit the road on Friday, September 8, 2023. After our awful experience with Interstate 40 during the spring, we opted for highways 50 and 70, also referred to as the Loneliest Road in America.

First stop Fallon Nevada. Thank goodness we missed the deluge that disrupted the Burning Man event 120 miles to the north of us. Then on to Ely Nevada. The wide shoulder outside Austin, Nevada, was a perfect place to take a break. I would have preferred to walk over and explore the gravesites and monuments at the nearby Austin Cemetery. Instead, I snapped a shot from afar. The cemetery earned distinction on the National Register of Historic Places in 2003.

Jon bundled the hope chest inside blankets, covered it with a tarp,
and secured it to the rear hitch rack.

We stopped in Eureka, Nevada, and ate delicious giant burgers at the Owl Club Bar and Steakhouse for lunch. I noticed a recurring theme of red paint with white trim on buildings around town. I imagined a group of people with ladders, brushes, and rollers roaming around, painting the town red.

Closed sign on the tourist information door.

The beautiful canyon we drove through from Ely to Green River nearly made me cry. The painted cliffs in rust and orange and yellow were every bit as majestic from the passenger seat as it would have been up close.

On the way to our next stop, we encountered a contrast to the terrain from what we saw in Utah. The Utah rock gave way to cliffs clothed in grasses, bushes, and trees.

And then we gawked at the architectural genius that skirted the cliff like a tutu. Was it really westbound Interstate 70 up there?

On paper, Denver West/City Center KOA seemed an easy side trip to avoid afternoon traffic in the big city. If I’d only known about the altitude, I might have chosen another location. While Denver sits at an elevation of 5,280 feet, the KOA is nearly 8,500 feet. Although we both had trouble navigating the hill from and to the fifth wheel and the store, it was the hot steamy shower that did me in. The combination of the steam and altitude had me gasping for breath. Note to self, don’t take a steamy hot shower in high altitude.

The hill to the store was steeper than it looks here

On September 12, 2023, we selected Wakeeney, Kansas, for our next stop, halfway between Denver and Kansas City.

We cut it close—I was driving, so I should say I cut it close—the next day when we (I) pulled into the fuel station with only 1.12 gallons of diesel left in the tank. Yikes!

While eating a late breakfast, at Cracker Barrel of course, we discussed finding a spot to stay the night or continue on to Marshfield, Missouri. The back-to-back long drives had worn me down, so I voted to press forward and make our trip six days instead of seven. Jon preferred to park and start off early in the morning. Trading off driving duty made it possible for us to make it all the way through. We won’t do that again soon. Seven hours on the map usually means eight or nine hours after stopping for food and fuel.

As the sun dropped below the horizon, we pulled into C&L Homestead and placed the trailer beside Chris’ workshop. I was so thankful we pushed through because we had two weeks ahead of us without packing and moving down the highway.

Up Next: A look around the homestead and the local area.

Safe Travels

2023 Summer Solstice Adventure La Paz California Sur – Part 4

On June 6, 2024May 28, 2024 By LToddIn La Paz, Mexico, Travel2 Comments

We come to the final part of the La Paz series. This one might make you hungry. One of the most enjoyable parts of traveling to a new destination is the abundance of food available to sample and taste. And we had plenty to choose from during our stay.

Restaurants

Draft House at the Oakland Airport is our go to eatery when leaving town in the wee hours of the morning. They have made to order egg dishes and other offerings which taste like real food, unlike the preprepared cellophane wrapped grab and go collections.

Our first meal in La Paz consisted of tacos and beer at Restaurantes Bizmark. Seafood is their specialty.

While we feasted on more tacos and beer at La Parrilla Esterito Grill & Beer Taqueria, the mosquitos feasted on my legs. When in La Paz, eat tacos, drink beer, and fight off mosquitos. Instead of, “where’s the beef,” I had to ask, “where’s the veggies?”

There was only one stall at the Farmer’s Market with veges and fruit, so we shared a few empanadas. Perhaps we arrived too late.

The Aramburo Supermercado was where we bought most everything we needed to prepare and cook meals at the house. We might not have found what we needed the first time we walked the aisles, but success was ours on the second or third time around the store.

We passed Las Chascas de Maria Elotes several times on our walks. They often had a long line out the door late in the evening. We thought they sold ice cream or yogurt. Instead, they offered savory corn and fries and chips topped with bacon, grasshoppers, or other unique crunchy things.

At La Peregrina Restaurantes I was hankering for something refreshing to drink so I tried a mojito. Mojito is now my go-to drink. Even the virgin version is cooling and satisfying. They also served up delicious food and deserts to die for.

Arriving early for our dinner at Casamarte we felt special sitting on the porch as we looked out onto the ocean and sunset beyond the malecon.

The service at Los 32 Sabores was superbly attentive, and the food held its own with the competition.

One late afternoon, we clamored to leave the house for an early dinner even though the heat and humidity had not yet dissipated. We found El Zarape’s with advertised air conditioning and an open sign on the door. We ducked inside to cool off and enjoyed a pleasant meal and great service.

It was a battle picking between La Mentita and El Azteca for breakfast. El Azteca won the debate. We’ll have to visit La Mentita next time.

Chilaquiles, omelets, baguettes, hot cakes, juices, and blended drinks and plenty more gave us plenty to choose from. I enjoyed the fruit plate.

For a group of foodies like us, La Paz offered plenty of places to choose from. We didn’t eat all our meals out, though. Jon, Bailey, and Kevin took turns showing off their culinary skills and supplementing our restaurant meals while I washed dishes.

Captain’s Sunset Sail

Our 2-1/2 hour catamaran tour of the bay on July 4 took off from the Marina Palmira in front of Captains’ Sunset Bar. Included were Margaritas, rum punch, and other drinks along with plenty of fruit and tasty appetizer bites prepared onboard to enjoy with our drinks, while lively music played through the speakers.

The best part was meeting the other guests. Many of them were expats from the US who are spending their retirement days in the city or part timers with a plan to do the same.

One woman told us about the different developments on shore. One such story was of a structure that looked half finished. Apparently, construction stopped midway when the building conflicted with the design of the road. So, there it sits. A hunk of concrete. Sullying the view of the beach.

The quiet, relaxing atmosphere grew in excitement when dolphins came to play around the catamaran.

At the end of the cruise, the crew invited us back to Captain’s Sunset Bar where they served dinner for free to all in attendance. Drinks were extra, of course. The celebration was in honor of the United States Independence Day. A classic rock band played live and a whole lot of dancing ensued. It was an event they do every year as a thank you to the locals, yachties, and expats.

And that concludes our time in La Paz. We braved the heat and made the best of it by staying cool in the pool in the afternoon, joining the festivities on the Malecon in the evenings, or relaxing in the air-conditioned house we rented. And of course, filling ourselves with wonderful Mexican food and deserts. If we return in the future, I think a spring or fall adventure would be in order.

Up Next: Our Fall 2023 Adventure back to Missouri in our new trailer.

Safe Travels

2023 Summer Solstice Adventure La Paz California Sur – Part 3

On May 30, 2024May 27, 2024 By LToddIn TravelLeave a comment

In this post we visit an art museum, a history museum, and meet up with a guide who took us on an art walk.

Museo de Arte de Baja California Sur

Inaugurated in November 2020 in coordination with the Museum of Modern Art of Mexico City. The building is the first space in the south Baja Californian territory dedicated and equipped to receive, mount, and show modern and contemporary art. Included is a room dedicated to South Baja Californian art.

The exhibit room upstairs was in the process of installation, so we missed out seeing more of what the museum had to offer. One area of the museum depicted local and indigenous life.

Another exhibit presented art by Ander and Ferlun honoring the Mexican equivalent of America’s World Wrestling Entertainment.

Lucheria Nacional El Arte De La Lucha Libre Mexicana
Ander +Ferlun Exhibit

“Basados en las obras pictoricas Demon, La Leyenda de Plata y El Mil” by Ferlun

The character’s eyes in this painting seemed to follow me wherever I was in the room. Even through the mask, I detected an innocence that belied the costume. Those who draw him as a foe, must stay alert to foil any attacks.

And then there were the interactive, colorful, and inspirational paintings by Ivan Guarderrama Torres which lifted my spirits as I examined each one. Scanning the image to the right of the painting combined technology with another perspective of the art on the wall. It was fun seeing how the painting came to life.

Messages of Love, Faith, and Hope by Ivan Guarderrama Torres

Below is the side of the art museum’s building lit up bright with street lamps, attracting photographers documenting such milestones as quinceaneras.

Regional Museum of Anthropology and History of Baja California Sur (Museo de Antropologia e Historia de Baja California Sur)

The peninsula history from ancient times to the start of 20^th century is documented within four rooms of the museum through artifacts, murals, dioramas, and narratives. Originally founded in March 1981, the newly renovated space reopened on December 10, 2018.

We wound our way through the exhibit space starting with the first room that discussed the ancient peoples who lived on the land and continued learning about the first European contact and the development of the Jesuit missionaries.

Dioramas gave a sense of how the people lived in their environment

The Spanish encountered four main ethnic groups upon their arrival. The Pericues between Cabo San Lucas and La Paz, the Guaycuras north of the Pricu to Loreto, the Monquis near Loreto and Cochimi in the middle of the peninsula. All were hunter gatherers without agriculture or metal working, but they did produce pottery. They also fished, but only the Pericues had rafts.

These columns are from the 1700s and thought to be part of an altarpiece
of a missionary church

The Baja California Sur covers the southern portion of Baja California. La Paz is the state’s capitol. It became the 31st state of Mexico in October 1974. It was previously the south territory of lower California.

Life sized diorama depicting a ranch hand

On the opposite side of the walkway is the rancher’s home

The last room depicts the great social movements: Mexico’s independence from the Spanish Empire, the interventions, the Mexican-American War (1846-1848), resulting in the US capturing Mexico City in September 1847 and subsequent Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo in 1848. La Reforma (1850s and 1860s, resulting in a new constitution of 1857), the dictatorial rule of Porfiriato (1884-1911), and events of the 20th century are also discussed.

Although I was able to comprehend the meaning of the displays through translation, I felt I missed out on more detailed information printed in Spanish on the many posters. Knowing how to read Spanish would have been a big help.

Art Walk Tour Cut Short

Early one morning before breakfast and before the heat of the day began in earnest, we joined Amélie Padioleau for an art walk. Amélie is a French anthropologist, journalist, and sailor who has lived in La Paz for the past 10 years. Her bio states, “She collects mythological stories, sea legends, but also true facts about fishermen and local heroes with the courage to rethink their life around sustainability and conservation.”

We met Amélie in front of the Peach Bakery and Coffee Shop. We had hoped to grab a pastry and drink before our tour started. Sadly, it was closed.

We were excited to learn the stories behind some of the many murals we saw around the city center. Her talk focused on murals painted in 2013 and those murals created under the Cuidad Mural project in 2017 initiated by Colectivo Tomate. For this project, 25 artists were invited to “paint stories of the community on the walls of the city.”

Her passion for La Paz, the murals, the artists, and the stories the murals represent came through in her presentation and I enjoyed hearing about the murals and their creators.

We started out in the shade created between the multi-story commercial buildings. At one point, we stood in full sun for several minutes admiring a series of paintings, then moved on to find shade while we admired another mural.

By then the heat an humidity was becoming oppressive and Jon was finding it necessary to find a place to sit down. When I saw Jon nod off while he sat on a concrete block, I rushed to keep him from falling. With him slumped over, clammy skin, and eyes rolled back in his head, we couldn’t rouse him from his slumber.

Amélie, said get a wet towel. We didn’t have one. Bailey stripped off her T-shirt, wet it with her water bottle, and draped it over his shoulders. Still no response. Amélie uncapped her water bottle and poured it over Jon’s head.

Finally, Jon stirred awake, a smile on his face. A young-boy smile all proud of himself. He had no idea he’d passed out.

We apologized to Amélie and thanked her for the tour, then called a Didi to take us to the house. Walking back wasn’t a good idea. A cool dip in the pool, a plate of breakfast, and a few hours of rest, chased the heat exhaustion away and returned our big guy to normal. Well, at least his normal.

As I look at the photos today, I can appreciate how the artists incorporated the La Paz history and themes into their creations with the sea and desert playing a large part in the stories the art reveals. If we make it back to La Paz someday, I’d like to take the tour again.

Next up: A sunset sail and restaurants that enticed us in for a meal.

Safe Travels

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