eJourna » travel

A Day In The Quartz Fields: Arkansas Diamond Mining Day Three

Tonia — Mon, 26 Jul 2010 14:00:15 +0000

Day three, Thursday June 11

Wegner’s Quartz Mine, Mount Ida, Arkansas

The cabins were great for our setup. We all met at Cabin One and made breakfast together. We cooked up a nice meal and enjoyed planning out and discussing what we would find today at the quartz mine. Cabin one had a large table and we almost all fit around it! The kids wanted to eat back outside at the picnic table, so it worked out well. We cleaned up and headed out. This cabin was a little further than our original plan from the Diamond Mine, but we could bring along the dog. It was closer to the quartz mine though, so all in all, it worked out well. That meant that today, we didn’t have far to go for our next round of treasure seeking.

Stare into my crystal… er, rock-like thing

We chose well in Wegner’s Quartz Mine. The people who checked you in were so friendly and helpful, it was great. I am not a rock hound by any means, so I need someone to show me what I am looking for, and how to find it. They were great for me. The kids have been studying minerals and rocks in school, so they already knew some of this; however, they have never found them on their own out of the mine. It is a bit different than studying a sample in school which is already cleaned and polished. The instruction was great. No one at the mine made us feel inferior for asking novice questions. In fact, they took us under their wing and gave us some extra tips on how to be successful. This was great, since the kids soaked up the advice and moved all over the field looking for new “hot spots” for the best finds.

Red dirt rovers; sifting for quartz

This mine was wonderful, in that they gave you buckets and garden shovels to use. We had brought our own, having read up on mining and having friends who are rock hounds guiding us in the gear we should take. We felt pretty well prepared. The mine is really a field of red clay that has been dug to the surface from the underground mine. This is surface mining, and you work your way around the field. Each person found their spot, and began digging away!

Immediately you could hear excited cries of “look at this piece!” and “I found a great one over here!”; “This one is so pretty!” This continued for hours, as we all filled our buckets with prime samples of quartz. One child proclaimed they had more than they could ever use, so they might sell some of theirs! The great thing about the mine is that you only pay an entrance fee and whatever you find you take home. There is no additional charge, one piece or one bucket full. It’s up to you and the space you have in your car! We went for buckets of course!

The mine had some picnic tables set up in the shade, so we took a break and had a picnic lunch. Next, we moved over to the gemstone sluice. Now, these aren’t gemstones native to Arkansas, so if you’re a purist type of rock hound this won’t appeal to you. But the experience was worthwhile for the kids. Where else can you sit with your bucket of dirt, pour it into a screen and run it through a sluice and work hard to identify all the gemstones you uncover? We had a great time and everyone took home a big bag of gemstones.

Washing off our finds in the sluice

We spent around 4 hours at the mine, and it passed by pretty quickly. Of course, we had kids who love to dig in the dirt, and the excitement of finding lots of treasure. We were hot and sweaty at this point from sitting out in an open field with near 100 degree temps and what felt like 100% humidity, so we decided to go into town for ice cream. There was a great little ice cream shack, the Dairyette, just up the road, and it hit the spot perfectly. We sat outside with our dripping ice cream and tried to eat it before it melted. It tasted pretty good after a hot day at the mine.

Since there was a grocery store right across the street also, so we picked up a few supplies for dinner, including charcoal, and headed back to the cabin. We had another dinner by the fire then spent time wading in the river and enjoying the peacefulness of the river setting. This night the kids decided to sleep inside, which is ironic since it was a beautiful night! Go figure…

Photos by eJourna

For more photos from our Arkansas Diamond Mining adventure, check out the gallery.

Sifting for Treasure: Arkansas Diamond Mining Day Two

Tonia — Sun, 25 Jul 2010 15:00:57 +0000

Day two, Wednesday June 10

Crater of the Diamonds State Park, Murphreesboro, Arkansas and Caddo Gap, Arkansas

Up and at ‘em! We got everyone assembled and loaded, and headed off to the Diamond Mine. We were now part of a three car caravan, and were hoping we wouldn’t lose anyone along the way. We had our coolers and tools packed; I guessed we’d be able to dig our way out of anything and not starve, so we’d be OK!

The entrance to “strike-it-rich-ville”

We crossed the line into Arkansas, our third state in two days; making progress! We got a bit hungry sooner than expected, or left later than expected I guess. We hadn’t passed a single rest area for a picnic lunch, which just seemed unbelievable. Even though we were on a county or state highway, it’s still a major thoroughfare for Arkansas. Since we’re traveling with four kids, I had planned on us being able to pull off in a rest area.

Checking the map, we decided to stop at Lake Catherine State Park, since it would surely have picnic tables and play area for the kids to get some energy out. It looked pretty close to the road, but don’t believe the map. It ended up being 12 miles off the road, and took about 20 minutes to drive back to the picnic area. It’s a beautiful park, and a nice stopping spot, but further than we wanted. Oh well, we’re on vacation, so we decided to quit worrying about a schedule so much and just go with it!

Wouldn’t you know it, after we got back out to the highway and headed further south, lo and behold, we came across a rest area one mile farther. Go figure! They could have announced it earlier with road signs!

Digging for Diamonds

After a bit more driving, we finally pulled into the Crater of the Diamonds State Park. Yeah! Crater of the Diamonds is the ultimate treasure seekers playground! Everyone loaded up their bucket with tools and headed into the park. We enthusiastically figured since were ten of us, we just knew we would be the lucky ones to find a diamond that day! One was found the day before, but not yet on this day. “You betcha its gonna be us…”

Oh land, we implore you to give up your bejeweled bounty!

We spent the next four hours digging around in the dirt and running buckets of rocks through the sluice. Shovel, carry, swish, swirl, tap, swish, swirl; squint at the rocks. Still nothing. Rinse, repeat. After baking in the hot sun for four hours, everyone was ready to give up for the day. We took our finds up to the park ranger who helped us identify the stuff we did find. We discovered that we had lots of Jasper and some Quartz and that’s about it! Everyone was hot, tired dirty and somewhat disappointed that we hadn’t located any Diamonds. We decided the quartz mine we’d planned on visiting tomorrow will be better; never lose hope!

Bunking at the Caddo River Ranch

We headed out on the caravan again to make our way to the cabins we’d rented. I called ahead to let them know we were on our way. We figured it would still be daylight when we arrived and hoped we’d be able to find the place OK. After a lot of searching on the internet before we set out on vacation, I had picked the Caddo River Ranch to stay at for this part of the trip. Darlene and Ken, the proprietors, were very accommodating and friendly on the phone.

The Ranch ended up being pretty simple to find and we couldn’t have asked for a prettier setting. We drove on to the Ranch, passed the main house and kept following the path on out towards the Caddo River. The cabins were situated at the end of the drive, about a half mile past the main house.

There were a total of four cabins set along the bank of the Caddo River. We had made arrangements to rent numbers one and two, and they were the furthest along. It was very private, well off the road, and reached our cabins and parked the vehicles, we hardly even noticed there were other people renting the other two cabins. We all went around checking out both cabins and discussing who would sleep where.

Cabins 1 and 2, situated on the bluff overlooking the tranquil Caddo River

Cabin number one sat atop a small bluff, with a great porch that overlooked the river. Cabin Two was smaller and a little less elevated above the river, but with an equally great view of the river. Each cabin came equipped with everything we’d would need to enjoy our time here: an accessorized kitchen with refrigerator, stove, microwave; cutlery, silverware; all linens and towels. It had a nice “campy” feel to it; kitschy but clean. The bonus was that the cabins had air conditioning! Oh yeah, we were really roughing it!

Outside Cabin One, we found a stone lined fire ring, stacked firewood and a great picnic table to sit at. The porch, which wrapped around two sides of the cabin; the front and the river-facing side; was fitted out with plenty of chairs to sit on and enjoy the view. We took advantage of it and rested a bit, just watching the river wander by, listening to birds and talking.

The grownups would’ve been content to just sit on the porch a while, but the kids were dying to go play in the river immediately. We split up; half of us going with the kids to watch over them as they played in the river; the other half tasked with making dinner.

Dinner by Campfire

We discovered at all of us had forgotten to bring any charcoal, so we sent the kids out to forage for kindling so that we could build a fire in the fire ring. We got a great campfire going, and had hamburgers cooked over the campfire. Though we ate a little later than originally planned, the kids loved cooking over the fire, and no one complained.

By the time we were done, we were using flashlights and a camping lantern to see, which just added to the adventure. We were lucky that one family was camping on their way down and were well prepared! The cabins were stocked for the kitchens, but not necessarily with lighting for the outside. We ended up cooking dinner outside the whole time we were here because it was fun to visit around the fire. There is definitely something relaxing about a summer cabin with the river next to you, and a campfire and smores to put everyone into a reminiscing frame of mind. The grownups and kids all just kicked back and chatted. Very nice.

A Tale of Two Kids and a Rain Swamped Tent

Our kids really wanted to camp outside, so we put the tent up on the porch and got them set up. We don’t camp too much since we’re city dwellers, so this was a lot of excitement for our kids. It looked like a nice night as we all headed in.

Funny how things can change! About 2 hours after we called it a night, a major thunderstorm came roaring through. This was the torrential downpour, thunder so bad the house shakes, kind of storm. I’m lucky my husband didn’t strangle me after all the times I sent him outside to check on the boys. I just knew they were outside cowering inside their tent, afraid to try to run in the house because it was so dark, and the thunder was making them shake! Each time my husband would come inside soaked, and tell me the kids were sound asleep. I stared at him unbelieving. How could they sleep through this, in a tent! The storm didn’t let up until around 4am and I sent him out at least three or four times to check on them. They slept soundly through the whole thing. WOW! My husband and I on the other hand, didn’t get much sleep at all!

Camping the porch of Cabin 1, Caddo River Ranch, Arkansas

Finally, at 5:30am, my oldest came into the house, soaked to the bone. He was angry and shaking cold, stating that “he was soaking wet and it wasn’t his fault!” He had rolled off the air mattress, sleeping bag and all, and was then lying in a puddle of water on the floor of the tent. I forgot to tell my husband that I had let them open the screen window in the back of the tent for some air. It had been hot and muggy when we went to bed and I thought the cross breeze would help them cool off. He had zipped the front screen closed the first time he went out to check on them, but didn’t realize there was one inside also since we had borrowed the tent! Oops! The other one was completely dry; he never fell off the air mattress. They didn’t even know it stormed! What troopers!

All photos by eJourna

For more photos, check out our Crater of Diamonds and Caddo River Ranch photo galleries.

The Ghost Town of Cairo: Arkansas Diamond Mining, Day One

Tonia — Sat, 24 Jul 2010 14:51:25 +0000

Planning the Trip

I’m from Central Illinois, but my husband was born in northeast Arkansas and still has a lot of family along the Arkansas-Missouri border. We’ve been to Northeast Arkansas and Southern Missouri more times than I can count to visit family on holidays and for family reunions. Despite that, I can’t say that we’ve ever really seen much of Arkansas itself.

I decided that at some point we needed to see more of Arkansas than the 30 or so square miles we’d seen so much of! I mean, there must be more to the state than the soybean fields and the hill my husband’s grandmother lived on, right?

Over last summer, another family reunion in Arkansas gave me just the excuse I needed to plan an extended family vacation with the intention of exploring more of this great state my family had seen so little of.

The centerpiece of the trip sprung from our neighbors’ passion for mining trips. In casual conversation they happened to mention visiting a diamond mine in central Arkansas. A diamond mine? In Arkansas? Considering that I have two sons who would jump at any chance to dig in dirt, especially if I added the lure of a “get rich quick” scheme, I figured this would be a good thing to center an entire trip around.

I spent countless hours searching for some good old-fashioned cabin-style lodging and other attractions in the area; and spent even more time convincing the in-laws and my husband’s sister and her family to go along with us. Knowing we would spend the last two days of the trip attending my husband’s family reunion, I put together an itinerary for the entire family that included diamond and quartz mining, visiting historic spas, and spending a few nights in a pair of rustic country cabins, complete with campfires and river views.

The evening before the trip was spent with our usual hectic last minute packing. When it was just my husband and I, packing for trips seemed so easy. Adding two sons ages 8 and 10 to the mix tends to make my job a lot harder! After getting the kids all packed, we hustled them into bed, with visions of diamonds the size of their fists and roasting marshmallows dancing in their heads and then hit the sack ourselves.

Day One, Tuesday, June 9

Northern Illinois to Doniphan, Missouri

Finally, day one of the great mining adventure was upon us! The kids were excited to be on the way. Amazingly, everyone managed to get up by 6:30, get dressed and ready to be out the door by 7am. This was a new record for us! Despite our best intentions, and my husband’s increasing frustrations, we typically leave at least an hour later than we originally plan. In fact, its’ a bit of a running joke with family and friends. Such is the life of parents.

We loaded up the rest of the gear, got everything in it’s place, but somehow I managed to misplace the new game I had bought the kids especially for the journey. So much for something new to do on the trip. After wasting time searching fruitlessly for it, we finally gave up and I just hoped it made its way into a bag unnoticed and we would find it for the way home.

We finally headed out, only about an hour later than planned. Ah, I knew it was too good to be true. We struck out along Route 47, a county highway, opting for this more scenic route than the traditional Interstates. By 10am we had only endured one question of “how much longer til we get there?” from the kids. Out of the corner of my eye, I’m pretty sure I saw them grinning as they asked. Maybe it was the countless stories my husband had told the kids about his epic four week grand vacation by car to California and back when he was young, with lines like “back then we didn’t have video games, so my sister and I had fun the old-fashioned way, by picking on each other and asking my parents ‘are we there yet’ over and over and OVER again!” Whatever it was, the kids had obviously figured out exactly how to get under Mom’s skin. I punched my husband in the arm, as just punishment.

We got stuck behind the longest semi I’d ever seen, which was hauling a single windmill blade to a nearby windmill farm. Considering the load, I couldn’t really fault them for moving slowly, and it was interesting to see how big the blades were up close. Despite that, we still made good time.

Route 47 eventually runs into Interstate 72 near Champaign-Urbana, which we took over to Interstate 57 and then continued south. Before we got too far, we stopped for lunch at a rest area just south of Champaign-Urbana. For a change, this one had very clean women’s bathrooms. While that might sound silly, for a female it’s worth noting for future trips. I circled that one on the map!

We assembled sandwiches, ate some grapes and let the kids run around on the playground for a few minutes to siphon off some of that pent-up energy before getting back on the road.

We stopped for gas in Salem, Illinois and everyone caved in and bought some chocolate. My husband’s eye was caught by a sexy looking retro-style A&W Root Beer Float bottle and just HAD to have it, proclaiming “wow, this is the coolest looking thing EVER! I bet it tastes GREAT!” While it looked interesting, the general consensus was: YUK. We couldn’t even give it to the kids, which should tell you something! Ah well, live and Learn.

Coldest Beer In Town

As luck would have it (or is it a curse?), an old abandoned liquor store overrun by rampant foliage, happened to be sitting on an equally abandoned dead-end road right next store to the gas station. My husband is a sucker for urban decay, so we drove over to it and he jumped out of the car and excitedly took pictures. I happened to steal a glance back at my oldest son and caught him looking at his father and shrugging his shoulders with that “he’s crazy, but we’re used to it” look on his face.

Cairo, Illinois

Speaking of urban decay, our next stop was Cairo, Illinois. More pictures for our photo album of signs. It is amazingly sad how dilapidated this town is. Here it sits, at the junction of two major rivers, and it’s boarded up.

Abandon Hope, All Ye Who Enter

As you come into town, there is a very cool iron gate that rises up into the overpass, a remnant of very old times. We drove through and into the old downtown area. At least ninety percent of the buildings are vacant and boarded up. As the kids looked around, they both exclaimed “Looks like the zombies could show up at any time! Then that iron gate will drop, and we’ll be dinner for sure!” This town should make its next million as a movie set. You could shoot a horror film here without having to build a set; just use the abandoned town.

We took the bridge out of town and within minutes found ourselves in Missouri. Yeah, next state on our journey! Now we just needed to finish the long stretch through the state to make it to our first stop for the night. Our plans called for meeting up with the rest of our party that evening, then forming a caravan for the drive to the diamond mine the next day. Ten hours today, then another six tomorrow, then hope for treasure!

All photos by eJourna

View a complete set of photos of Cairo, Illinois

Lake Michigan Circle Tour by Motorcycle: Day Six

Ron — Mon, 12 Jul 2010 17:50:49 +0000

Today we woke up expecting some rain on our final day of the trip. We were pleasantly surprised when we were greeted with clear, sunny skies instead! We hit the road between 8 and 9 am, headed for Beloit, Wisconsin and home.

It was a gorgeous day, bright and sunny, on the warm side. Probably the nicest weather day we’d had the entire trip. We stuck to mostly country roads and county highways as we worked our way south through central Wisconsin, only stopping for gas.

We saw ten times as many bikers on the road today as we had the entire rest of the trip. Not too surprising, really, considering it was a Saturday. As we got closer to Beloit, Dean split off, headed east towards his home, since he lives just north of the Illinois/Wisconsin border in Wisconsin. We waved bye as he took the exit home, and continued on our way.

We wandered into Beloit, and then South Beloit, where Tim continued on home, Mike and I splitting off in the direction of his house. We arrived around 1 pm and I took the chance to take a long break, relax with Mike and his wife, April, and eat some lunch.

After checking out Mike’s other bike, a Yamaha dual sport, I put my bug splattered helmet on and headed East through beautiful Northern Illinois countryside, towards my home. A ton of bikers were out for their weekend rides. With my pack on the back and mud and bug covered bike, I didn’t quite fit in and caught quite a few looks from the bikers I passed.

The closer I got to home, the more familiar the roads became; this was home ground and I’d ridden these country roads a lot over the past three years. Lots of trees and powerlines were down, remainders of the storms that had rolled through the area the day and night before. Seeing them made me realize we’d made the right decision in staying an extra night in Appleton, Wisconsin. Still, I was anxious to get home.

Lake Michigan Circle Tour, route map

When I finally pulled into the drive way, it was with a mixture of relief and a little bit of depression. I was happy to have completed the trip without any mishaps, but a part of me didn’t want it to be over either. I had gotten used to the feel of the open road and the wind in my face, not really thinking about anything except what I was doing at that moment. It’s the “freedom of the open road” cliche I’d heard so many bikers talk about before; it’s a powerful feeling that just makes you want to keep on riding!

According to my odometer, I’d ridden a total of 1,317 miles in a complete circle around Lake Michigan. We rode through four states and got to see three of the Great Lakes on our trip. I really enjoyed riding through Michigan and the Upper Peninsula, since so much of it I’d never seen before.

Taking a long trip by motorcycle is something I’d been dreaming of ever since getting my bike. It was a bit of a pain in the ass, literally, doing the trip on a Sportster, but it’s something I can brag about now. It wasn’t the easiest bike to go that far on, but it wasn’t nearly as bad as everyone made it out to be before we left either.

I learned quite a few things along the way (my next post will be about these lessons learned) that I’ll be making use of when planning my next long motorcycle trip. Hopefully you enjoyed following along!

Lake Michigan Circle Tour by Motorcycle: Day Five

Ron — Sat, 10 Jul 2010 14:31:12 +0000

We awoke early to a bright, shiny day, grabbed a quick continental breakfast from the lobby of the Super 8, packed our bikes, and headed out of town. Destination? Shotgun Eddy White Water Rafting!

We rode back through Shawano past the Menominee Casino before hooking a left onto a nice curvy, hilly, tree-lined country road for about 10 miles before reaching a gravel entrance for Shotgun Eddy. On the way, I spotted an Bald Eagle flying gracefully above us.

Shotgun Eddy isn’t much to see. It’s a collection of ramshackle buildings, including a registration area, a few changing “rooms” that had seen better days, a campground and more. Still, we weren’t staying here, and the rafts looked in good shape. The price was also right; we chose to do the slightly shorter “Otter Slide” trip, which they bill as a short version of their full day “Smokey Falls” 6 hour trip. The Otter Slide is supposed to clock in at around 4–1/2 hours, though we ended up doing it in 4.

The Otter Slide is $30.00 per person plus shuttle fee. The shuttle, a later model van, took us to Otter Slide to put in. The driver slid our rafts, two in our case, down the embankment to the water’s edge, handed us all flotation vests, and let us know to head to the left side after the final waterfall to reach the pickup spot.

The Otter Slide is considered Class III-IV: Class III means “strong current, big drops, narrow paths, high whitewater and strong whirlpools.” Class IV is billed as “extreme current, waterfalls, high whitewater and large dips.” I’d say those descriptions were pretty much right on. Minimum age requirements for Otter Slide are 12–18, depending on water level, and parental consent is required. They also recommend previous rafting experience.

Shotgun Eddy does have other trips that aren’t as extreme, for families with kids, or those who just want a more leisurely trip down the Wolf River.

Wolf River, Keshena, Wisconsin

I had forgotten to pack a swimsuit, so I just wore an extra pair of cargo shorts I’d brought, as well as a baseball cap and sunglasses. The only other things I brought with me were a ziplock bag with beef jerky for snacking, and a small tube of sunscreen. Both ended up being good choices.

Since my camera wasn’t waterproof, I didn’t bring it. Afterwards, I really regretted not having a camera, since the scenery was gorgeous and we saw some great wildlife!

I would highly recommend anyone doing a trip like this to pack a swimsuit, towel, good water shoes, sunglasses, sun block and a small cooler with watertight bags or Tupperware containers for food and drink. A good, truly waterproof camera, or maybe an iPhone in a good waterproof, shockproof case would be good too.

Tim and I paired up in one boat, with Mike and Dean in the other, and we set off down the river. It was pretty lazy rafting for a while. We goofed around, practiced synchronizing our paddling and generally enjoyed the view.

We saw some great wildlife, including a handful of large turtles sunning themselves on rocks, a deer that had waded up to its neck in the water, a river otter that thought better of jumping into the river once he’d spotted us pesky humans, and that aforementioned Bald Eagle who swooped down over top of us, skimmed the water and finally settled into the trees at a bend in the river.

Aside from the whitewater and falls themselves, seeing the wildlife was probably the best part of the experience for me.

After we negotiated some rapids, we finally came to the first waterfall, about a four foot drop. You hear the rushing water before you see it. Tim and I didn’t prepare very well. Our first mistake was to leave me, the heavier of the two, in the front of the boat. When we went over the falls, the forward weight kept our nose down and ended up letting a lot of water into the boat. Oops! Still, we didn’t injure ourselves and we didn’t capsize, so it wasn’t all bad!

After we cleared the falls, we landed on some rocks, tipped the boat to empty the water out, and adjusted our position so that we were sitting side by side. This worked better for paddling as well as the rest of the rapids and falls.

We went through a few more sets of rapids that we did a pretty good job of negotiating before the final approach to the Smokey Falls at the end. The Falls are between two steep rock walls, and consist of two sets of falls, the first being about four or five feet and the second set a good six to eight feet. We did ok going over the first falls, keeping the raft fairly straight, if not completely water-free. We bounded down the second falls while still trying to recover from the first, smashing right into a large finger of rock jutting out of the water directly in the middle. This bounced me all over the place, making it hard to steer, and we ended up veering to the right and getting caught in a pretty strong whirlpool that trapped us between the Fall’s undertow and some more rocks. We paddled like mad and after an exhausting effort, finally managed to free ourselves. We still had to paddle hard to the left in order to make the landing spot.

All of this fun and chaos took place with an audience, as there is a foot bridge over the left arm of the river to an island with a wooden observation deck looking over the falls. We were cheered on by a few people above. I’m sure they were having a good laugh at us, but we still had fun.

As I’d never done whitewater rafting before, I’d say my first experience was a lot of fun. I definitely learned a few things about what to do, and more importantly, what to not do!

Our driver arrived just after we did, loading up the rafts. We had a short wait to make sure no other rafters arrived, and then headed back to base camp, where we changed clothes, dried off and headed back out on the road.

By now it was mid-afternoon and we were hungry, so we rode back into Shawano and stopped at Yesterday’s Diner for some well-deserved lunch. The Diner has a big old car set at an angle on the roof, so it’s hard to miss. We chatted with the owner, who recommended their sweetbread, bring some out for us for free even! We all ordered some home made milkshakes and malts, as well as burgers, and feasted like kings.

As a bonus, they even had free Wi-Fi. These small local restaurants and diners know how to compete against the chain restaurants, and we certainly made good use of the internet connection while we were there, posting twitter and facebook updates, checking in on FourSquare, checking email, and looking at route options via Google Maps. Technology has really changed how we travel.

While there we checked on the weather ahead of us, which indicated a pretty nasty storm front moving across from Iowa and Minnesota into Southern Wisconsin and Northern Illinois, our hoped-for destination for the night. We decided to head into Appleton, less than an hour away, and check the weather again there.

After arriving in Appleton and making a stop at a Hardee’s parking lot, we checked the weather again. Not good. Straightline winds and massive rain and lightning were rolling into the Chicago area, with another front of equal intensity due in southern and central Wisconsin a bit later. We consider our options, including riding as far as we could until we rain into the bad weather. I was really hoping to get home that night, but I also didn’t want to risk my life in a really nasty thunderstorm. Best case, we’d end up under an overpass somewhere; worst case, we’d be caught in the open.

We decided we just weren’t going to be able to make it home on Friday. Tim used Google Maps on his iPhone to locate a Holiday Inn Express nearby, and we rode a short distance and decamped for the evening.

Turns out the Holiday Inn was hosting a large wedding reception when we arrived, and they upgraded us to executive level rooms since they were out of regular rooms. Hey, fine with us! We hauled all our crap up to the rooms, took a little breather and then decided to head out to see the new A-TEAM movie, since we were stuck for the evening. The Holiday Inn shuttle driver dropped us off at the nearby theater and picked us up after. Back at the motel, we ordered pizza to be delivered and called it a night after dinner.

Summer Events Along the Blue Ridge Parkway in Virginia

Ron — Fri, 02 Jul 2010 14:00:03 +0000

Enjoy music, arts, crafts, food and wine to celebrate 75 years of the Parkway

In honor of the 75th anniversary of the Blue Ridge Parkway, Virginia’s small towns and communities along “America’s Favorite Drive,” are celebrating with special events and festivals all summer long.

The Blue Ridge Parkway is an iconic travel destination, stretching 469 miles from Shenandoah National Park in Virginia to the Great Smoky Mountains. Reconnect with loved ones and nature in this pristine part of Virginia where music festivals, arts and crafts fairs, and food and wine events showcase the traditions and hospitality of Virginia’s Blue Ridge region.

Details on select special events are below. Visit www.Virginia.org/brp for more events, travel packages, trip itineraries and a chance to win a seven-night, six-day family vacation for four along Virginia’s Blue Ridge Parkway region.

Blue Ridge Parkway and Skyline Drive

Crafts in the Meadow/Meet the Authors – Meadows of Dan, July 3–4, 2010

The sixth annual Arts and Crafts Fair will feature regional artisans and traditional arts — local Blue Ridge historians and regional authors will be available for book discussion, book signings and sales. FREE.

Floyd Fandango Beer and Wine Festival – Floyd, July 3–4, 2010

An annual Fourth of July festival featuring the finest in Virginia wines and regional craft beers, plus art vendors, overnight camping and main stage music. The Floyd Fandango takes place on a beautiful 80-acre Blue Ridge Parkway plateau. Attendees can relax under two giant tents – one featuring all-day wine tastings and the other offering samplings of craft beers – all while enjoying headlining acts on the gorgeous timber-framed main stage. Go for the weekend, and enjoy free overnight camping on-site. Admission Fee: $25 in advance and $30 at the gate.

Wooden Canoe Building Workshop – Floyd, July 4–9, 2010

Torben Hanson, instructor of woodcraft at the Danish School of Craft in Copenhagen, Denmark, will be teaching this wooden canoe building workshop at Ambrosia Farm Bed and Breakfast and Pottery in Floyd — a community that encourages and therefore celebrates its artistic diversity, through music, visual art, traditional craft and theater. Admission Fee: $1350 per couple.

Chateau Morrisette Wine & Music Festival – Floyd, July 10, 2010 and August 14, 2010

Enjoy a pristine setting where local area artists, advocates and youth are encouraged to participate in the festival. Celebrating 30 years of successful winemaking in 2010, Chateau Morrisette advocates conservation of the Parkway’s natural setting, and partial proceeds of sales of Mile Marker 000 and Mile Marker 469 wines are contributed to the Blue Ridge Parkway Foundation. Admission Fee: $15 in advance and $20 at the gate.

FloydFest 9 – Floyd, July 22–25, 2010

FloydFest is a four-day celebration of music and arts in the beautiful Blue Ridge Mountains. Featuring seven stages of bluegrass, old-time, folk, world music and more, as well as a children’s universe, healing arts, dance tent, Appalachian workshop porch and more than 100 local and regional artisans. FloydFest is an annual epicenter for music, culture and art in Southwest Virginia and beyond. Admission Fee: $145 for the weekend or $60 for a day.

Microfestivus – Roanoke, August 14

The Square Society presents the 13th annual MicroFestivus, a micro and craft beer festival. Taste from a selection of over 50 beers from 20 micro and craft breweries from the Mid-Atlantic region. Admission Fee: $5.

Galax Moose Lodge Old Fiddler’s Convention – Galax, August 9–14, 2010

The Galax Fiddler’s Convention will be celebrating its 75th anniversary in 2010. Musicians and fans from around the world travel to Galax to perform and hear the music that defines the sound of the Blue Ridge Mountains. Galax, a venue of The Crooked Road, has been designated the world’s capital of old-time mountain music and is proud to be identified as hosting the world’s oldest and largest fiddlers convention, which has taken place consistently since 1935. Admission Fee: $5 — $8.

Fries Fiddlers Convention – Fries, August 20–22, 2010

The Fries Fiddlers Convention promotes the music of the area’s heritage and hopefully introduces a new generation to traditional old-time music. Besides the normal various instrument competitions and band competitions, there is also a youth competition and a flatfoot competition for young and old. $.

Virginia State Peach Festival – Stuart, August 19 – 21, 2010

The Virginia State Peach Festival is Virginia’s celebration of one of its star fruits – the peach. The festival traditionally holds a ticketed Saturday night music concert with major bands and a barbeque dinner. The festival has now grown to cover a weekend of celebration and includes a Thursday night gospel sing at Patrick Springs, the Virginia State Peach Pageant on Friday and a Saturday Folk Fair celebration at Meadows of Dan. Admission Fee: $12 in advance.

5th Annual Blue Ridge Mountain Music Fest – Wintergreen, August 21, 2010

Wintergreen Performing Arts will present the voices of the Blue Ridge through its fifth annual Blue Ridge Mountain Music Fest. The 2010 program features traditional bluegrass bands, gospel, blues and rock and roll. Admission Fee: Adults $20.

Chinquapin Festival – Meadows of Dan, September 4–6, 2010

The sixth annual Chinquapin Festival celebrates the soon-to-ripen Chinquapins, a nut-bearing shrub indigenous to the Blue Ridge Mountains. Craft vendors will be on-site selling their goods and locally-grown produce will be available. Live old-time and bluegrass music and a hay bale maze are also there for people’s enjoyment. FREE.

Parkway’s 75th Anniversary Weekend Festival – September 10 –12, 2010

The official 75th anniversary celebration — a multi-day, multi-venue festival staged along the Virginia, North Carolina shared border where Parkway construction began on September 11, 1935. The festival will include a formal ceremony featuring local, state and federal officials, regional music and crafts, antique car and travel trailer vehicle exhibits, interpretive and environmental programs, storytelling, children’s activities and local foods. FREE.

Virginia celebrates the 75th anniversary of the Blue Ridge Parkway throughout 2010 with special events, travel deals and promotions up and down the parkway. Complete details are available at www.Virginia.org/BRP.

Photo by Tom Stanley

Ohio’s Hueston Woods State Park Unveils New and Improved Facilities

Ron — Thu, 01 Jul 2010 19:47:22 +0000

Recently completed projects include a newly renovated marina, expanded mountain biking trails and a new disc golf course

COLLEGE CORNER, OH – State officials and local volunteer groups celebrated a variety of improvements at Hueston Woods State Park with ribbon cutting and dedication ceremonies on Wednesday, according to the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR).

ODNR Director Sean Logan, ODNR Division of Watercraft Chief Pam Dillon, Ohio State Parks Acting Chief John Hunter and Hueston Woods Park Manager Lonnie Snow cut the ribbon on long anticipated improvements to the Hueston Woods marina, which were completed this spring at a total cost of $1.4 million.

The marina project includes the renovation of 92 existing docks, and the addition of 184 new docks with new piling. Improved walkways and upgraded electrical service are also part of the renovations, along with a new fire suppression system, security gates and a convenient new fuel dock. A new shelter house and a new accessible restroom have also been added for the comfort and convenience of boaters and other park visitors.

Nearly 100 students from Troy High School in Troy, Ohio, who are camping at the park this week as part of their summer physical education and community service program, attended the dedication ceremonies. In his remarks, ODNR Director Sean Logan praised the students for their service to the park, and urged them to consider careers in conservation.

Following the ribbon cutting, West College Corner Fire Chief Dave McDill and his crew demonstrated the fire suppression system, to the delight of onlookers attending the ceremony.

A second ribbon cutting at the mountain biking trail head included recognition of volunteers who assisted with the creation of a new 1.3 mile multiple use trail, as well as improvements to the park’s 12-mile network of mountain biking trails. The new multiple use trail provides access from the park’s rustic camping area to additional trails. Groups recognized include the Trail Crew, a coalition of local mountain biking enthusiasts, and “Biker Bob” Feldman, the proprietor of a bike rental shop near the trail head.

Finally, the park’s new 36-hole disc golf course was dedicated. Hank Rodrick, owner and operator of Sweet Tees Disc Golf of Fairfield, was recognized for his assistance with the course design and construction. Tom Arvan, general manager of the Hueston Woods Lodge and Conference Center, was also recognized as an important partner in developing and building the course, which is located near the lodge. The Troy High School physical education students also assisted with the project.

Visit the Ohio Department of Natural Resources Web site at www.ohiodnr.com for more information.

Starbucks Turns on Free Wi-Fi Today

Ron — Thu, 01 Jul 2010 16:58:11 +0000

Families on vacation and business travelers across the US and Canada now have more options to grab a bit of free Wi-Fi while on the road.

Today, July 1, 2010, Starbucks will turn on free Wi-Fi with one click at all U.S. and Canadian company-operated stores. Customers with Wi-Fi-enabled laptops, tablets and mobile phones will have unlimited Internet access to surf the Web, connect with social networks, search for hotels and local attractions, and more at any Starbucks. Most recently, the free Wi-Fi benefit was limited to two hours a day and only available to members of the My Starbucks Rewards program. The new, unlimited Wi-Fi offering features a one-click entry point, so a username or password will not be required.

“Our customers were asking for a simplified Wi-Fi offering, and free Wi-Fi has been a top request on MyStarbucksIdea.com. We’re excited to turn this feedback into action and believe our customers will be delighted with the enhanced experience they’ll find in Starbucks stores,” said Howard Schultz, chairman, president and chief executive officer of Starbucks.

Starbucks will continue to work with AT&T in the U.S. as its Wi-Fi provider, a relationship that’s been in place since 2008. Close to 6800 Starbucks locations are part of AT&T’s U.S. Wi-Fi network, the nation’s largest. In Canada, more than 750 company-operated stores will now have free Wi-Fi. Bell is the Wi-Fi provider in Canada and has worked with Starbucks since 2005.

As Schultz noted at the WIRED Business Conference on June 14^th, the addition of one click, free Wi-Fi to the Starbucks customer experience is just the beginning. Later this fall, Starbucks plans to introduce the Starbucks Digital Network, in partnership with Yahoo!. This new online experience, currently planned for U.S. company-operated stores, will offer customers free, unrestricted access to a collection of paid sites and services, exclusive content and previews, free downloads and local community news.

“Bringing one click, free Wi-Fi to Starbucks opens up new opportunities for our customers and gives us the backdrop to continue to bring innovation to their in-store experience. We’re finding new ways to bridge the third place coffeehouse environment with the digital space, and look forward to sharing that with our customers,” said Stephen Gillett, Starbucks executive vice president, chief information officer and general manager of Digital Ventures.

Having recently returned from a trip where I was happy to get free Wi-Fi at some of the local places we stopped to eat, and frustrated with some of the places we were in that I couldn’t, I can attest to how nice it is to be able to sit down for a few minutes and catch up on emails, look up hotel locations and contact info, check road and traffic reports, and all sorts of other little travel chores.

Since Starbucks stores are all over the place, it’s a no-brainer, especially for business travelers, to stop in for a Latte and enjoy a connection to the internet as well. Provided you can find a place to sit, that is!

UPS Rolls Out New Luggage Box as Alternative to Checked Baggage Fees

Ron — Thu, 01 Jul 2010 14:21:39 +0000

Alternatives Take the “Lug” Out of Luggage; Save Time, Money

The UPS Store Luggage Box

The UPS Store aims to ease air travelers’ burdens this summer with three luggage shipping alternatives, including a new luggage box that takes the place of a suitcase, to help reduce hassles of long lines, security searches and increasing baggage fees.

“Not having to carry a suitcase while traveling is a great convenience. Even better is luggage awaiting your arrival at a destination or hotel,” said John Minetola, The UPS Store franchisee from Wyoming, Pa. “You can ship your luggage as is; place it in a box for shipment, or at select locations purchase a luggage box, eliminating the need for a suitcase altogether.”

UPS claims that when shipped UPS Ground service, the luggage box is competitively priced with the airlines’ baggage fees. Additionally, members of the Automobile Association of America (AAA) can receive a 15 percent discount off the full retail price of The UPS Store eligible products and services and five percent off domestic U.S. UPS shipping costs.

The new luggage box comes as the AAA predicts an increase in summer travel this year.

“AAA’s Memorial Day forecast predicted a more than five percent increase in Americans traveling, a trend we expect to continue this summer,” said Heather Hunter, AAA spokesperson. “Additionally, our travel agents are reporting double-digit increases in the percentage of travelers making advanced bookings for tours and cruises as well as an increase in hotel bookings via AAA.com.”

Available at select U.S. The UPS Store locations, the luggage box comes in two sizes, large and small; has a sturdy handle for easy carrying, and is made of recyclable corrugate. Because it weighs less than an empty suitcase, packing directly into the box can help lower shipping costs. Travelers also can include packaging tape and a return UPS shipping label for use when returning home.

“We’ve seen more customers shipping golf clubs and skis ahead over the past few years as well as more ‘snow birds’ packing items for annual travel to warmer climates,” Minetola added. “Luggage shipping picked up when the airlines began increasing fees for checked bags and carry-ons.”

Both luggage boxes meet airline baggage restrictions for travelers opting to fly with their belongings. The small box can be carried on and the large box can be checked in, minimizing the chance of paying airline oversize or overweight charges. The luggage boxes have been professionally tested. Travelers can visit theupsstore.com to view a luggage box information sheet with details about box dimensions, weight limitations and declared value.

Luggage solutions from The UPS Store also allow travelers to easily track shipments with UPS mobile apps for cell phones, PDAs or other web-enabled wireless devices or receive e-mail shipment notification.

Travelers can visit the online cost calculator to research the most economical shipping option. Planning ahead allows travelers to choose a less expensive shipping option like UPS Ground service. Additional information to consider when planning to ship luggage includes:

The UPS Store also specializes in packing odd, oversized items, such as skis, golf clubs and fishing poles — items travelers may prefer to have waiting at their destination.
Because of the duties and taxes associated with international shipments, The UPS Store does not recommend shipping luggage internationally.
Federal Aviation Administration restrictions prohibit The UPS Store from shipping hazardous materials, including colognes and perfumes, aerosol sprays, nail polish and cigarette lighters via air.

Travelers can find the nearest The UPS Store location online or by calling 1–800-789‑4623.

Kids Sail Free on Seven-Night Mexican Riviera Cruises Aboard the Disney Wonder

Tonia — Thu, 01 Jul 2010 14:00:06 +0000

Disney Cruise Line is making it easier to experience the magic of Disney Cruise Line on the West Coast with a special “Kids Free” offer on seven-night cruises to the Mexican Riviera starting January 2011.

Disney Cruise Ship

Guests 17 and under can sail free on seven-night voyages aboard the Disney Wonder when accompanied by two full-fare paying guests occupying the same stateroom (government taxes and fees excluded). This offer is valid for most sailings from Jan. 23 to March 20, 2011, and covers a variety of stateroom categories, ranging from deluxe family staterooms with verandas to standard inside staterooms (categories 4 to 11). However, there are a limited number of staterooms available for this special offer. Guests can book through July 31, 2010.

Guests sailing to the Mexican Riviera aboard the Disney Wonder will experience exciting ports of call combined with a family-friendly cruise only Disney can deliver. The seven-night cruises include visits to Cabo San Lucas, Mazatlán and Puerto Vallarta coupled with three fun-filled days at sea. Onboard, guests will enjoy dazzling stage spectaculars, including “Toy Story-The Musical,” inspired by the Disney Pixar films; over-the-top deck parties, featuring the only fireworks display at sea; nearly an entire deck dedicated to youth activities; sophisticated offerings for adults and fun experiences for the entire family.

Rates for the seven-night Mexican Riviera itinerary start at $639 per person for a standard inside stateroom, based on double occupancy.

To book a vacation or to get complete details on the “Kids Free” special offer, guests can visit disneycruise.com/kidsfree, call Disney Cruise Line at 888/DCL-2500 or contact their travel agent. Guests should mention or input booking code “KFMR” when making the reservation.

Photo by davecobb