Our humans went for a drive up into the Roosevelt National Forest. They drove all the way to the top of Cameron Pass, an elevation of over 10,000 feet. Cameron Pass runs between two mountain ranges - the Medicine Bow mountains and the (as it turns out) aptly named Never Summer mountain range. There was a scenic overlook at the top and they had a picnic while enjoying the view. (It was sunny, but they did have to eat in the car, since it was 32 degrees with a stiff wind). Minutes after they finished eating, the weather abruptly went from clear and sunny to a blinding blizzard. No wonder they always talk about how suddenly the weather can change in the mountains.

They drove back down to us in the coach (which was only at 4500 feet above sea level) and were pretty surprised to see that it had snowed here too. (It was sunny and 65 when they had left us in the morning). There were still lots of little ice balls on the ground. We basically slept through it. The weather in the Denver area is rather odd.


A lovely picnic area during early June in the Rockies


A view of the Nokhu Crags from the top of Cameron Pass, taken while having lunch.



The weather can change abruptly at 10,000 feet. From sun to snow in under 5 minutes.

We are fixed and back on the road with our new alternator (whatever that is). Cheyenne, WY was interesting but we have places to go and birds to see. We left Cheyenne and traveled due west to Laramie because the humans wanted to see the Wyoming Territorial Prison where Butch Cassidy and a bunch of other outlaws were incarcerated. On the way there we went over the pass on I-80 and there was snow on the sides of the road! (I didn’t think I’d be seeing snow anytime soon but I was sitting behind my Dad’s head and there it was.)


The Wyoming Territorial Prison from 1872-1903, now restored to its original appearance


A typical means of transport to the prison


Three levels of cells inside the prison


After their visit (and our nap) we continued on our way and actually went east back over the pass to Cheyenne and then south to Loveland, CO.  

We weren’t thrilled with our stay at the Riverview RV Park because the sites were too close together and there were other RVs blocking our view of the wildlife. Mom and Dad liked their visit to the Rocky Mountain National Park and then Estes Park for lunch right on the Big Thompson River. They told us that they saw lots more snow on the peaks up in the park.


High peaks in the Rocky Mountain National Park


Another view near the town of Estes Park, CO

Then yesterday we left that boring campground and drove less than an hour to a new one in Fort Collins, CO. The Fort Collins Lakeside KOA is much nicer. In fact, I think it’s the nicest KOA kampground that we’ve ever been in. There are all sorts of birds in the tree right next to our bus and the weather today is perfect - 70, sunny and a bit of a breeze. It’s a good day to relax!

Hey, Cassie here. We are relaxing in Cheyenne, Wyoming. Seems our bus needs a new alternator and we are going to get it tomorrow. We stayed overnight at the nasty truck place and then we came here to a campground yesterday while the part we need was being ordered. It was a very short 3 mile drive so the bus didn't need to be towed which all us cats liked. (Towing was strange because the engine wasn’t running in our bus and our parents weren’t with us. Scary!) Anyway, there are trees here and lots of birds and it’s quiet.

The humans went out to see the sights in Cheyenne today; toured downtown and had lunch. The weather is a perfect 72 and so we napped.


Looking north on Capitol Ave in Cheyenne, WY at the Capitol Dome. Only 53,000 people in Cheyenne and only 500,000 in the entire state.

So we left Santa Fe yesterday. We liked the hummingbirds and the bunnies and the humans loved the food but it rained and thundered a lot the week we were there so we were glad to be going. There were more new states for us to drive through and more cool stuff to see.

When we traveled north out of Santa Fe the land changed to more flat for a while and then we crossed into Colorado and it got a lot hillier. We sorta drove through clouds for a bit and then came upon Colorado Springs (said Dad) and they were having an air show just as we got there. What luck! The Thunderbirds were practicing for their official show which was to be today at the graduation ceremonies for the Air Force Academy. The Vice President (whatever that is) was even going to be there today. Wow, I guess. Anyway, we got to see the planes as we drove along I-25. It was a little hairy since people pulled over right on the highway to see the show. They took out their cameras and everything. Not safe if you ask me but I’m only a cat.

We continued north and drove right through the middle of Denver, Colorado. Big city! Lots of cars! We got to see the football stadium of the Denver Broncos cause we passed right by it. Mom got some shots through the windshield. I didn’t get what all the fuss was about - we like the Miami Dolphins!

North of Denver we stopped for the night at a Walmart near Fort Collins. It was brand new and had spots just for our big rig. Very nice. The humans went in and got some supplies (I know cat food comes from somewhere else so I didn’t care) and we didn’t get our dinners until they returned.

We were up bright and early this morning (Fred led the way before 5 AM) and hit the road for points north. We were driving through Wyoming when Dad wanted to stop by the road to take a couple pictures and noticed oil leaking. Ugh! We are broken down. Bummer! We waited in the rest area for what seemed like cat years until John the wrecker guy came and he hauled us back to Cheyenne and the truck fixing place. We are still there waiting for someone to look at us. At least we have our Mom and Dad with us so we aren’t scared.

It has rained a bit here in Santa Fe but the air smells good to us cats. The humans have been gone a lot eating New Mexican cuisine. Mom says it’s like Mexican and Tex-Mex with it’s own twist and that everything is covered in red or green chile sauce. She likes the heat but our Dad prefers milder fare.

Today they took a day trip to Albuquerque to see the Balloon Museum and the Sandia Peak. They really liked the hot air balloon history especially the period in the late 1800’s when women (and men) jumped out of balloons as high up as 12,000 feet and held on to parachutes all the way to earth. Wow! They drove up to the base of the Sandia peak but clouds covered the top so they didn’t take the tram up to the top.

Today’s our Mom’s birthday and we planned to celebrate with her but some cool new people pulled in next to us today and Mom and Dad are still partying with Gretchen and Bob from Arizona outside the bus. Guess I’ll take a nap.


Parachuting in the late 1800's


Actual parachute used by Ms. Merton - no straps, just a wooden ring to hold onto while coming down

Today was an interesting day. We woke up to the beautiful Amarillo sky - so blue in the morning. There was a nice breeze and we all spent some time sniffing the wind. We knew it was a travel day and soon we were off. My brother and sister went to the bedroom but I took a nap in my bed in the living room right behind my Dad’s driving seat. A short time went by and I woke up and something was amiss. My Mom was driving and my Dad was sitting in her chair. What was this, I immediately asked? Dad told me all was okay and that Mom needed to have more driving practice. I’m not altogether sure I’m comfortable with this but it did all work out and later in the morning they switched back after a lot of road construction that my Mom had to drive through. She did really well and I think I'll like having two drivers since we can go even further some days and see more sights.

Something else important happened as we drove this morning. We entered mountain time. I’ve never been to mountain time before. We turned our clocks back another hour so now my stomach says it’s time for dinner two whole hours before Mom gives it to us. Bummer times 2!

We arrived in the afternoon at the Santa Fe Skies RV Park and have a terrific site here. It’s up on top of a hill overlooking mountains and the city of Santa Fe below. There’s a little dog next to us in a big 5th wheel trailer and a robin flew into the tree in the garden on the side of the bus to welcome us. The mountains and clouds in front of the bus are quite a sight.


The view from I-40 just after crossing into New Mexico from Texas


Our site in Santa Fe just across from the registration building


Our view of the mountains as the afternoon thunderstorms move in.

None of us felines have felt like blogging the last few days so I guess I’ll have to do it myself since I am in charge here!

We left Byron, GA last Saturday and have been heading west. We drove through Georgia and into Alabama and made a turn northwest when we got to Birmingham. We drove into Mississippi and stopped at an RV Park in Tunica, the Mid-South. This was a new spot for us cats and our humans. It is on the grounds of Harrah’s Casino and was pretty boring. No trees and no birds and very few people. The humans liked it here, though, cause they could day trip it easily into Memphis which is in another state! According to Mom there are 3 states that come together here: Mississippi, Tennessee and Arkansas. Funky.

So we stayed there for a couple days and Mom and Dad liked their viewing of the Mississippi River. Then we took off west again. In just a few minutes we left the RV Park in Mississippi, drove through Memphis in Tennessee and crossed a big bridge into Arkansas. We kept going west and stopped in Little Rock. It was about noon and us kids figured we were done traveling for the day. But NO! The humans spent a couple hours at the Clinton Library (he was the President before we were born) and then we took off again. The weather was forecast to be stormy so we stopped at a Walmart (again!) a couple hours later.

There were storms over us in the night which disturbed my brothers and me in our slumber. It was overcast early when we hit the road again and traveled into Oklahoma. Another state we can check off our list!

We have been camping for a couple days in the Twin Fountains RV Park. It’s much nicer than most of the places we’ve stopped lately because there are trees and birds and people with dogs walking by. It was very hot yesterday so the air was on but today is cooler so the windows are open and we just love that. Mom and Dad have checked out Oklahoma City and loved the National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum. They also went to the Oklahoma City Memorial and marveled at all the time that’s gone by since 1995.

There are some interesting (weird?) things about Oklahoma. On the interstate they have signs saying “wreck ahead” to alert drivers to an accident, an ad for new police officers said that a company car is provided, the Arkansas and North Canadian Rivers are in Oklahoma and when the humans went to the grocery store the greeter gave them a “bucket” instead of a shopping cart. Interesting.

Mom says we are on the road tomorrow and going to Amarillo, Texas. I wonder what it will be like there?


The Mississippi River as seen from the top of the building on Mud Island - an island near the shore in Memphis, TN

A scale model (1 foot = 1 mile) of 1000 miles of the Mississippi River from Cairo, IL to the Gulf that is part of the exhibits on Mud Island


The Clinton Presidential Library in Little Rock, AR


An exact repiica of the Oval Office constructed inside the Clinton Library

Yesterday was another interesting day. Us cats spent almost all day in the bedroom - locked up! All sorts of noises came from the front of our home. Lots of guys were in and out but we couldn’t see what was going on. After awhile, I got impatient and you know what that means - I started yelling! It just wasn’t fair that I couldn’t be supervising the process - whatever it was.

Well, finally Mom let us out. We were still in the garage work area of SunCoast RV and she had been vacuuming. (Have I ever told you how we hate vacuuming?) I sprinted out of the back and ran right up to the front of the bus. I didn’t see anything different in my haste. Well, Cassie followed me in a much slower pace and noticed right away that we have a new refrigerator! It’s all shiny and bigger than the old one. Fred followed her and was very interested in the new smell. I was just pretty happy to be free!


The old refrigerator awaiting replacement


Sliding the new refrigerator in the same way the old one went out - through the windshield!



The completed installation - looks even better than the original!

Yesterday was our third day in a row of traveling. We left the Walmart in South Carolina at first light and traveled down into Georgia and through Atlanta and Macon to Byron. We have been here before. It’s the SunCoast RV and they work on our bus here. Barney, Fred and I had a good nap yesterday afternoon while our humans went out to see a movie. Then they came home and we all just chilled. We had some yummy cat food for dinner and they grilled some steaks. This morning our friend Tim came on board and we went into their building in the bus. For hours people walked on our roof and worked in the back closet and the inside front area. We could tell that something big was going on.

It all became evident late this afternoon. We have DirecTV HD satellite now! It’s just like our old house. There are a million channels and we get to see Animal Planet again. Yea! Animal Planet rules!

What is in store for tomorrow, I wonder??

Another day on the road and I don’t think this traveling has ended but we were all feeling fine today. We got started really early this morning but we were all up early anyway. The Walmart parking lot cleaning truck came by to wake us all up. We hit the road and traveled through the rest of Virginia and North Carolina into South Carolina and stopped at another Walmart Supercenter near Spartanburg. Is this going to be a habit? I have to say that these parking lots are sort of boring. No trees or birds just cars and people instead.