"...and miles to go before we sleep..."

Road Trip 2009: From Decatur, TX and back-4365.4 miles
(it will be 4825 miles when we roll into Austin)

July 22 (Wednesday) - Decatur, TX
Day 21
Mama Camp 2009 road trip pretty much complete, after spending the remainder of the week here we head home.

"...if a tree falls in the forest..,"

July 22 (Wednesday) - Broken Bow, OK
Day 21
Beavers Bend National Park - Oklahoma Forest Heritage Center Museum

Wonderful showcase of professional wood artists. Campy exhibit of
man's relationship with the forest with 14 murals by Smokey Bear
illustrator Harry Rossol.

"...splish splash I was taking a bath..."

July 22 (Tuesday) - Hot Springs, AR
Day 21
Getting some natural springs water.

"...someday we'll find it...the rainbow connection..."

July 21 (Tuesday)- 30W Little Rock, AR
Day 20
The best part about the rain is the rainbow.

"...hold on for one more day..."

July 21 (Tuesday) - I-40W near Beebe, AR
Day 20
National Junk Food Day and so many Little Debbie trucks on the road.

"...rain, rain, go away..."

July 21 (Tuesday) - I-40W towards Little Rock
Day 20
Raining from Nasvhille through Memphis...means no picnic, no hiking, no roadside attraction photos...and can barely read the road signs.

"...I sang of the caves and their shadows..."

July 20 (Monday) - Mammoth National Park, KY
Day 19
The campers listening to the park ranger before entering the cave. We did the Mammoth Passage tour because the littlest camper was too squirmy and wanted to be carried. The tour was mostly informational but for the price it was a nice road stop.

Activity Fee: $10 (kids under 6 free)
Actual Fee: $64 (entrance fee plus souverniers)

"...you're my butterfly..."

July 20 (Monday) - Dayton, OH
Day 19


Cox Arboretum Metroparks
Stopped to picnic, say "hello" to Zip and visit the Butterfly House. Met some wonderful volunteers.

Can you see the Cecropia caterpillar?


Location Link: Cox Arboretum Metroparks
Activity Fee: $0

"One small step..."

July 20 (Monday) - Wapakoneta, OH
Day 19

Neil Armstrong Air and Space Museum
On the 40th anniversary of Armstrong’s walk on the moon the museum was busy and with only on hour to spare mama camp opted to view the grounds and get back on the road.


F5D Sky Lancer
Location Link: Armstrong Air & Space Museum

July 14 (Tuesday)- Empire, MI
Day 13

Robert H. Manning memorial lighthouse.
The little campers enjoyed playing in the sand and skipping rocks.
Lake Michigan feels like the beach!

Forecast: 70F, Sunny-Partly Cloudy

"...Mr. Sandman, bring me a dream..."

July 13 (Monday)-Michigan
Day 12
From Novi to Traverse City, MI

The little campers were sacked out and missed Frankenmuth...

Bonner's Christmas Wonderland, founded by Wally Bonner in 1945 and open 361 days a year.

How many days until Christmas?

Charlies Country Corner Store had lots of "animals" on display...the little camper's favorite was the raccoon with Cracker Jacks box.

8pm...made it to Traverse City before sunset!

Location Link: Bonner's Christmas Wonderland

City Website: Traverse City, MI

"...as the Miller told his tale..."

July 12 (Sunday)-Youngstown, OH
Day 11
Lanterman's Mill at Mill Creek Metroparks
(980 Canfield Road, Youngstown, OH)
Stopped to eat a late lunch on the drive from D.C. to Michigan.

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The mill was a short walk from the parking lot and offered clean restrooms, gift shop, museum ($1/adults) and hiking. A hiking trail map of the Metroparks area can be found at the mill's gift shop along with history books, photos, and flour. The little campers thoroughly enjoyed climbing up and down the three levels of the mill where they viewed historic items from Lanternman's Mill.

Although no longer in service the wheel was still in motion.

The Covered Bridge replica built in 1989.


Two long picnic tables across the covered bridge along the trail. The mill and covered bridge were very picturesque but the picnic tables could have been placed in a better location within the Lanternman's Mill buildings. The storm drains empty out along the mountain and could be seen from the picnic table and the aroma of the water in the river below was not at all pleasant. Mama Camp ate quickly and returned to the mill.



Location Link: Lanternsman's Mill, Covered Bridge, Mill Creek Metroparks

"...the land of the free, and the home of the brave..."

July 12 (Sunday)-Lincoln Highway, PA
Day 11
Driving from D.C. to Michigan, Mama Camp got off the turnpike and drove through the Lincoln Memorial Highway. After passing the sign for the Flight 93 Memorial we did a U-turn and paid our respects. Unfortunately the little campers were sleeping and did not get to see the memorial.

Temporary Flight 93 National Memorial

The small US National Parks Service Station.

Benches with the names of the flight and crew look over the crash site and provide seating for guest during the park ranger's presentation.

"These tributes, along with other objects collected from the temporary site, are the property of the Flight 93 National Memorial and are under the dedicated care of the National Park Service."

"On September 11, 2001, the passengers and crew of United Flight 93 gave their lives. They made this choice so that an unknown number of people could live, people they never met. The people aboard Flight 93 gave the ultimate sacrifice. Motorcyclists from all over the free world leave this memorial as a tribute to you. Thank you for your Sacrifice. May God bless you and your families. -- America's 90/11 Ride Foundation, Inc."

Location Links: Flight 93 Temporary Memorial, Flight 93 National Memorial

Other Links: America's 9/11 Foundation

"Free falling..."

July 11 (Saturday)-Washington, DC
Day 10
The Smithsonian National Air and Space Muse: Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center
Uncle Chris took Mama Camp to the Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center and showed us the view from the observation tower which broadcasts the Washington-Dulles air traffic controllers.

The best part of the museum for the little campers was climbing into a Cessna 150 and getting to control the plane.

The docents and volunteers were amazing. Here the little campers were told that everyone from the jet fighters to the shuttle astronauts learn to fly on planes like the Cessna.

If they can master the Cessna 150 they can fly anything.

A fun demonstration how air pressure affects selected items.

The Big Camper was memorized by this docent's talk about the space suit.

Although we did not visit the IMAX theater it was fun to see the Transformers display nearby. (The Air and Space Museum has a cameo in the Transformers sequel)

Location Link: The Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum
Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center
Activity Fee: $15 parking per car (thank you uncle chris!)

"...born in the USA...I was born..."

July 10 (Friday ) - Washington DC
Day 9

National Mall and Memorial Parks
To give the little campers some time to work off their energy, Mama Camp decided to let them run around the mall.
"Whose bright idea was it to walk all the way to the Lincoln Memorial?!"
"...oh that's right, mine!"

Washington Monument

World War II Memorial
"The Price of Freedom" - each gold star represents 100 soldiers killed in WWII. It's hard to explain "war" to a five year old, but he is learning that 'Happy B' fought in WWII and the Korean War and 'Popper' fought in the Vietnam War.

The Korean War memorial. The Big Camper asked which one was 'Happy B,' his great-grandfather.

The Lincoln Memorial

The Vietnam Memorial where we saw Uncle Chris' cousin's name on the wall.

"...and which memorial is that?...umm...those are restrooms..."

Activity Fee: $0
Actual Fee: $5-ice cream (reward for Big Camper walking to the Natural History Museum to the Lincoln Memorial and back)
Total times someone asked about that building next to the memorial which ended up being a restroom: 3
Total Miles Walked (according to Camp Daddy): 4
Total Miles Walked (according to Camp Director): 6
Total Miles Walked (according to Big Camper): a billion!

"...the ankle bone is connected to the...foot bone"

July 10 (Friday ) - Washington DC
Day 9
Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History
The Big Camper was excited that Mama Camp was visiting the museum featured in the "Night at the Museum 2: Battle of the Smithsonian" movie but seemed to be wary of the T-Rex dinosaur "coming to life".

Including lunch our total museum time was less than three hours with the majority spent in the Fossils/Dinosaurs and Mammals exhibits . The little campers enjoyed the discovery area but ran through most of the other exhibits (too bad there aren't docents in each of the halls giving presentations). This was Camp Daddy's first time to the Smithsonian and would have spent more time there but the little campers were ready to run around outside. This was the Camp Directors fifth time in the museum and still enjoys every minute of it.

Location Link: Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History
Activity Fee: $0
Actual Fee: $60 (lunch for four in the cafeteria...2 cheese pizzas, hot dog, yogurt, cookie, sandwich, soup, chef salad, 2 drinks, french fries). In hindsight Mama Camp should have eaten at the farmer's market outside of the Department of Agriculture or packed a picnic.

"...I hear that train a comin'..."

July 10 (Friday) - Washington DC
Day 9
First Metro Ride for the Little Campers

The little campers experienced rush hour traffic on the way home.

Number of times the campers were told to stay close: 15
Number of times Auntie Caro's metro pass didn't work: 2
Activity Fee: $0 (thanks Uncle Chris!)

"As of some one gently rapping, rapping at my chamber door..."

July 9 (Thursday)-Richmond, VA
Day 8

Edgar Allen Poe Museum

This tiny museum features artifacts from Poe's early life and career in Richmond, Virginia. The self-guided tour offers information about each of the six featured areas of the museum. The little campers were only really interested in the patio area and Camp Daddy and the Camp Director eventually took turns viewing the exhibit rooms while they played outside.

Location Link: Edgar Allen Poe Museum
Activity Fee: $10
Actual Fee: $18 (admission + souvenirs)