Roy and I have been going to Eureka Springs, AR, for 43 years.  One of our first dates was a day trip in his 1970 yellow VW bug.  We had enough money for gas but little extra.  We stopped at a small grocery store for bologna (sliced on the spot), white bread and cheese.  I think we each got a soda and we dined alfresco at the park in town.  On March 7, 8, and 9, 2014 we pulled into Wanderlust RV Park in our 2009 42 foot Foretravel motorhome.  We have come a long way in 43 years!

Eureka Springs is a quirky artist community in the mountains of NW Arkansas.  There are many galleries, fabulous restaurants, great shopping and a Festival almost every weekend.  A trip to Eureka Springs is not complete without a trip to Two Dumb Dames candy store for fudge.  The variety is huge,  and there are always seasonal favorites such as Pumpkin Pie Fudge in the Fall.  We enjoy Local Flavor for just about any meal, and Mud Street Cafe is another favorite.  Ermilio's has great Italian food also.  Actually, there are so many it is hard to pick favorites.

The community has a good public transit system, and parking is something that you do pay for.
Around $5.00 for 4 hours.  The streets are narrow and crowded, so don't take your RV downtown-only your tow vehicle.  I will attach some pictures so you can get a feel for the town.
I hope you will visit if you are in the area.  For those of you who ride motorcycles, this is a great area for your hobby, and Eureka Springs is motorcycle friendly.
www.eurekasprings.org

 

Life Changes

So many things to consider.  In 9.5 months, Roy and I will be unemployed for the first time in nearly 45 years.  That raises all kinds of questions, like what are we going to do? Where are we going to live? Do we keep two houses and a motorhome? Where do we spend our time?  How do we balance our travel and home time?  What do I do about my photography? Do I continue doing portraits and weddings or do I start entering photography contests and begin to explore fine art photography?  Lots of questions, no answers.  Everything will become clear in the next few months and change over the next few years.

Blogging: starting over...e

I have spent the better part of two days working on a new theme for my Wordpress blog site.  It is still not working, so here I am, back on Blogger!  This is so easy. Not 'sexy', but easy.  I am feeling frustrated at how hard the other blog is to customize, and create posts and how easy this one is at doing those things. Maybe I need to rethink this blogging business for our travels!
http://www.marthajdameron.com

Coeur d'Alene, Idaho

Sitting in my hotel room tonight.  Tired, achy, but well fed and my mind is going over and over all the things that I should do, ought to do, might do and want to do.
 
Elise and I came up here to photograph a wedding for a friend and fellow photographer.  We have known him for 2-3 years, and he asked her to photograph his personal wedding.  I am along as a backup/second shooter for Elise.

I still enjoy photography.  I have had a good day just walking, scouting locations, shooting whatever moves me.  That said, my body is talking to me about how it hurts to carry all the equipment, bend, squat, and keep moving.  I need to be working out again, just to keep my neck and shoulders stable.  This has been an  ongoing problem for over 2 years now: chronic pain in my neck and back and shoulder blade area.  my left arm is spasming, and some days I can't seem to get moving.

Life with a purpose.  I heard a man describe his life in those words after retiring from work at 58, traveling around the country for 5 years, and then going back to work.  He didn't  need to work, but he did need a life with purpose.  I don't need to work.  I can live just fine without running a portrait studio.  I am helping out at the lab in their marketing team, and it is fun,  but not my 'purpose'.   I have started water color painting, and it is enjoyable, but it is too early to know if it will help create sense of purpose. I am learning about blogging, and many people find a sense of purpose in it--I don't know where that fits.  I am concerned that I am a single dimensional person--that I have defined myself for too long as a photographer, and that no other label fits or is satifying to me.  Much to think about.

highway 54 400 50

We are traveling west again!  Last night in Pratt Kansas, and tonight in La Junta, CO.  Tomorrow, Tiger Run in Breckenridge.  Denny and Marlys are already there, enjoying the cool. 68 degree weather.  It is supposed to be in the upper 30's tonight and around 66 tomorrow.  We will have gone from a high of 91 today, to 66 tomorrow--what a shift. 

Today, we got here early and then went to Bent's Old Fort Historic Site.  It is a reconstructed, 1840's privately owned trading post.  They rebuilt the site in the 1970's and staff it with people who demonstrate black smithing, cooking, etc., just the way they would have lived in the 1800's.  A really facinating look at life in another time. It was a very hard time. 

Roy and I are tired, and having a quiet night.  Barbara and Robert Rueter are traveling with us in their RV, and Barb has offered to cook breakfast tomorrow.  She is a good cook, and really enjoys preparing for everyone.  I am almost out of ideas for cooking anymore!  If it  isn't simple, I won't make it.

Time for bed.  My eyes aren't cooperating any more.  Tomorrow. I will upload images of the fort.

Texas: June 2010

Today, we left Nacogdoches in a terrific rainstorm and headed south on Hwy 59.  One of our new friends at Foretravel (also a Lazy Daze owner)  recommended that we go to Brenham TX for a tour of the Blue Bell Ice cream Factory.  Thanks, Virginia!  We had an adventure getting here.  We drove 59 to  Livingston TX and then went west toward Lake Livingston, which is a beautiful drive.  Roy wasn't ready to stop, so we continued to Brenham, via Huntsville.  We called the Artesian Park and RV campground and made a reservation so that we could spend the night and then tour Blue Bell on Wednesday.  We followed the Woodell directions and found the RV park.  Drove past to the next crossover.  The 40 foot coach wouldn't/couldn't make the u turn and we headed down a small road called Artesian Lane...Wrong!  Immediately, we encountered signs that said ""dead end" and "NO Turn Around!"  Pretty specific!  As we prepared to unhook the jeep, a small white truck appeared behind us...Roy pulled over as far as he could and the lady driving, asked us to follow her to a turn around behind her house.  The road kept getting smaller  and smaller ( and more beautiful) until we passed behind her house.  She was so gracious in helping out two people from Missouri who were so lost!  Ultimately, we arrived at the Artesian Campground and checked in.  It is small and has dirt roads, wifi, and some TV signal  as we are the last to subscribe to satellite tv.  Time is best spent on the computer.  I did take some photographs before fixing dinner and will post them.  It has been adventure off the interstate--unknown roads, two lanes and unknown destinations.  We successfully figured survived a 'dead end' and 'no turnaround' and small lanes in the RV park.  We weren't able to put out both living room slides as there was an electrical pole in the way.  All in all, a very good day!

All in all, we saw some beautiful country, drove off the interstate, talked to our accountant, encountered one of my worst nightmares, drove down a dead end, across a wooden bridge that wasn't rated for a 45000 lb motorhome towing  a jeep, drove off road(see the mud on the tires) made our way out and found a place to stay.  Even if the place to stay was as Roy said: "the kind of place Barbara gets Robert into"  !  Fixed dinner and took some photographs--and blogged!

Winter Frost