Blue Knight
Free Member
Fantastic thread guys - well done 
Van now in USA (1 Viewer)
- Thread starter mojo
- Start date
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Like all good motorhomer trips we changed our route last minute to visit Aspen .This mainly to visit the John Denver Memorial Garden .It would also require a drive over Independence Pass at 12090 ft.The memorial was very well done with many colourfull plants and water features with rocks showing lyrics from his songs.
A lovely town obviously full of millionaires ,never seen so many private jets on the small airport.The property prices !!!
The drive over the pass was limited to 35ft so we were ok.Great weather ,great scenery.
Found a perfect wild camp back down at Twin Lakes including a herd of Elk running past the van at breakfast.
My signal is very poor here in a town called Longmont north of Denver so pics difficult ,after 20 mins on first pic to 60% I will try elsewhere.
Managed to collect from a small town post office some Gaslow replacement adaptors send from UK.Looking at the new one it seems the original had lost a rubber seal.
We now have gas again just in time for the falling night temperature.
A lovely town obviously full of millionaires ,never seen so many private jets on the small airport.The property prices !!!
The drive over the pass was limited to 35ft so we were ok.Great weather ,great scenery.
Found a perfect wild camp back down at Twin Lakes including a herd of Elk running past the van at breakfast.
My signal is very poor here in a town called Longmont north of Denver so pics difficult ,after 20 mins on first pic to 60% I will try elsewhere.
Managed to collect from a small town post office some Gaslow replacement adaptors send from UK.Looking at the new one it seems the original had lost a rubber seal.
We now have gas again just in time for the falling night temperature.
Mikey RV
LIFE MEMBER
Keep the pics and story coming. Really enjoying this thread. Happy travels.
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Pics
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Our sleeping destination at Sam's Club in Longmont is ten miles north of Boulder.
A long drive through the old wild west town of Leadville to Jamestown west of Boulder.
In Leadville the famous Doc Holiday had his last gun fight.Any train buffs out there?
Jamestown post office ,up on the hills,had our parts from UK for the leaking gas adapter.
Now works fine,it was a missing rubber seal.
Chose Longmont for its three golf courses
A long drive through the old wild west town of Leadville to Jamestown west of Boulder.
In Leadville the famous Doc Holiday had his last gun fight.Any train buffs out there?
Jamestown post office ,up on the hills,had our parts from UK for the leaking gas adapter.
Now works fine,it was a missing rubber seal.
Chose Longmont for its three golf courses
Loving this thread as its something we've talked about doing, so far we've done two road trips in the USA and loved them. If your going to Boulder City pop into Southwest Cafe and try one of their cakes/pies just be warned they're massive
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Sorry lorger already left Boulder.Today we visited Buffalo Bills Grave and museum on top of Lookout Mountain above the town of Golden.Great views over Denver and some education on Buffalo Bill Cody life in the little museum.Another famous person dying penniless.
Also in Golden is the Coors brewery,the largest in the world on one site.Made our way there to be told the free tour was not on today so no free beer either !
Seeking excercise we visited five golf courses in Denver before getting a tee slot this afternoon.They are mad for it out here.
Took nearly four hours to walk the huge course .They build them big .
Again poor signal so pics when possible.
Getting near the end of month so I will try to post some practical information on expenditure .
Also in Golden is the Coors brewery,the largest in the world on one site.Made our way there to be told the free tour was not on today so no free beer either !
Seeking excercise we visited five golf courses in Denver before getting a tee slot this afternoon.They are mad for it out here.
Took nearly four hours to walk the huge course .They build them big .
Again poor signal so pics when possible.
Getting near the end of month so I will try to post some practical information on expenditure .
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Colorado Springs today and a visit to the Gardens of the Gods.A popular tourist attraction of unusual rock formations.Pikes Peak can be reached on a scenic drive but we're happy to view from afar.The USAF have a Academy of Flight here since the 50s .I think Tesco should start selling buffalo according to the info panel.
Hotel Sam's tonight.
Hotel Sam's tonight.
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Theonlysue
LIFE MEMBER
What are the yanks making of your eurovan?
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Turns heads everywhere as they notice the opposite steering ,they have to take a double take then point .When stationary we get questioned .Scratched heads asking it must be unsafe .
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Have our motorhomes improved over the years.
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Before we set off east from the Rockies we visited the Manitou Cliff Dwellings .These are reconstructed Anasazi buildings .In the late 1800s they simply removed from the original location to start a tourist attraction !
Still,it was interesting to be able to walk amongst the dwellings and a good museum.
I like the part of how they dealt with their dead.
First map I have seen locating the many tribes before our arrival.
Still,it was interesting to be able to walk amongst the dwellings and a good museum.
I like the part of how they dealt with their dead.
First map I have seen locating the many tribes before our arrival.
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Ok here is the promised summary .
68 days in America from 25 July to 30 September
Fuel approx 3.30 Dollars per US gallon which is approx £2.52 US gallon ( 66 pence litre)
LPG approx the same as deisel
Covered just over 8,350miles in 20 States.
Groceries and booze. £1120 (£16.50 day)
Fuel. £1347 ( 16 pence per mile )
Campsites. £345 for 21 nights (£16.50 per night)
We used mainly State Park campsites,no frills ,no electricity .
47 days free camping .
Purchase at the start of a yearly pass at 80 Dollars for National Parks have saved us lots.
It covers vehicle and occupants , average entrance is 20/30 Dollars.
Joined Good Sam at first opportunity in one of their many affiliated Camping World Supercentre stores.This cost 27 dollars which gets you discounts on affiliated campsites and a massive book at 8 dollars for all USA campsites.BUT our reason was it then allowed us to join their countrywide breakdown service for any size vehicle at 80 Dollars.
Let's hope it's never used.
We avoid campsites,too expensive.Average cost about 40 dollars but often a lot more.State and National parks are better at about 20 dollars but no electricity or frills.
We dispose of grey waste responsibly on waste ground or more often in the disposal points at state parks and gas stations.These also allow for black ,otherwise many free standing plastic cubicles to dispose black.Water often uploaded from gas stations when filling diesel.
Free camping in towns/cities always Walmart or better still Sam's Club.Very convenient for sights and eating out.
Supermarkets are as much as double compared to UK.Walmart cheapest.
Our favourite foodstuffs often only in independent supermarkets at a cost.
You guess how much fuel is required and pay first with a over estimated value.The actual amount used is what comes off your cc statement.
We have to use a 10 litre add blue every 1000 miles which is a extra expense at 15 dollars for this Mercedes 3 litre engine.
Americans very friendly and polite.Drivers pretty good and obey speed limits except in cities you get a few idiots.
68 days in America from 25 July to 30 September
Fuel approx 3.30 Dollars per US gallon which is approx £2.52 US gallon ( 66 pence litre)
LPG approx the same as deisel
Covered just over 8,350miles in 20 States.
Groceries and booze. £1120 (£16.50 day)
Fuel. £1347 ( 16 pence per mile )
Campsites. £345 for 21 nights (£16.50 per night)
We used mainly State Park campsites,no frills ,no electricity .
47 days free camping .
Purchase at the start of a yearly pass at 80 Dollars for National Parks have saved us lots.
It covers vehicle and occupants , average entrance is 20/30 Dollars.
Joined Good Sam at first opportunity in one of their many affiliated Camping World Supercentre stores.This cost 27 dollars which gets you discounts on affiliated campsites and a massive book at 8 dollars for all USA campsites.BUT our reason was it then allowed us to join their countrywide breakdown service for any size vehicle at 80 Dollars.
Let's hope it's never used.
We avoid campsites,too expensive.Average cost about 40 dollars but often a lot more.State and National parks are better at about 20 dollars but no electricity or frills.
We dispose of grey waste responsibly on waste ground or more often in the disposal points at state parks and gas stations.These also allow for black ,otherwise many free standing plastic cubicles to dispose black.Water often uploaded from gas stations when filling diesel.
Free camping in towns/cities always Walmart or better still Sam's Club.Very convenient for sights and eating out.
Supermarkets are as much as double compared to UK.Walmart cheapest.
Our favourite foodstuffs often only in independent supermarkets at a cost.
You guess how much fuel is required and pay first with a over estimated value.The actual amount used is what comes off your cc statement.
We have to use a 10 litre add blue every 1000 miles which is a extra expense at 15 dollars for this Mercedes 3 litre engine.
Americans very friendly and polite.Drivers pretty good and obey speed limits except in cities you get a few idiots.
Thank you for sharing your journey.
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JockandRita
LIFE MEMBER
- Aug 2, 2007
- 11,447
- 149,887
- Funster No
- 49
- MH
- N+B Flair 8000i
- Exp
- Since May 05 (Ex Tuggers).
My sentiments too, and for taking the time and effort throughout your adventure so far.
Cheers,
Jock.
Like many other people here I’ve been avidly following your blog and thank you for letting us ride along with you, the cost breakdown is great are you currently running a cost versus budget spreadsheet?
Mikey RV
LIFE MEMBER
Thanks for all the costings, pics and story’s. I would love to do a trip like that.
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Just using a monthly spreadsheet out of curiosity of expenses.No budget.When you full time ,as we do, once the fixed
expense of getting the vehicle to certain locations are dealt with then living expenses are much as much with variables.Fuel for such distances is an expected increase .
The 8,350 miles so far on this map.
The 8,350 miles so far on this map.
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OP
"Cute little RV" ."Nice small size" .Two comments I remember .The van itself passes people by ,it's the steering wheel that gets the looks.
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Before crossing in to Kansas and the time line we visited Bents Old Fort National Historical Site near La Junta, Colorado.
What a great place to visit.Although the old trading post was rebuilt in 1976 it helped to bring home the scale of the building effort and importance to the area.
Spent much more time exploring than anticipated but one of the most interesting sites so far.
Eventually made it in to Garden City ,Kansas .Just one hour to Dodge City tomorrow.
What a great place to visit.Although the old trading post was rebuilt in 1976 it helped to bring home the scale of the building effort and importance to the area.
Spent much more time exploring than anticipated but one of the most interesting sites so far.
Eventually made it in to Garden City ,Kansas .Just one hour to Dodge City tomorrow.
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Dodge City. 1 October
After Bents Old Fort took up more time than anticipated it was too late to complete the journey to Dodge City.We settled on Sam's at Garden City for that evening.
Arrived in Dodge City by 10 am and first impression was disappointing.The town has not retained any original buildings ,the last were pulled down for a car park in the 70s.
However,they have a mock up street built to photograph's just below Boot Hill Cemetery .
We walked the bland town looking at various statues and pavement medallions before entering the Boot Hill Museum mock up.
Thankfully this turned out to be a far better experience .The cemetery, although now empty,earned its name for the many gun fighters buried with their boots on.
The town rightly famous for the high death rate during the lawless early years.
The street mock up actually had a store selling as original as possible products and a saloon bar.The remainder displaying each properties original layout and purpose.
A enjoyable afternoon taking four hours .
A one hour journey, because the sheriff said get the heck out of Dodge,has us wild camping by a lake in the prairie town of Greensburg.
A interesting info panel showing the dates of expansion and the fact that we have crossed the 100th Meridian heading east.This means leaving dry land to more cultivation .
After Bents Old Fort took up more time than anticipated it was too late to complete the journey to Dodge City.We settled on Sam's at Garden City for that evening.
Arrived in Dodge City by 10 am and first impression was disappointing.The town has not retained any original buildings ,the last were pulled down for a car park in the 70s.
However,they have a mock up street built to photograph's just below Boot Hill Cemetery .
We walked the bland town looking at various statues and pavement medallions before entering the Boot Hill Museum mock up.
Thankfully this turned out to be a far better experience .The cemetery, although now empty,earned its name for the many gun fighters buried with their boots on.
The town rightly famous for the high death rate during the lawless early years.
The street mock up actually had a store selling as original as possible products and a saloon bar.The remainder displaying each properties original layout and purpose.
A enjoyable afternoon taking four hours .
A one hour journey, because the sheriff said get the heck out of Dodge,has us wild camping by a lake in the prairie town of Greensburg.
A interesting info panel showing the dates of expansion and the fact that we have crossed the 100th Meridian heading east.This means leaving dry land to more cultivation .
OP
OP
Wichita 2 October
You could not make it up.Driving the highway to Wichita we saw linesmen working on the electric poles.Just had to play Wichita Lineman by Glen Campbell on the MP3.
Anyway,I wanted to visit the historical museum in the city centre.My Rough Guide said it had a good section on Cessna and Beechcraft who are still major employers in this city.I was a private pilot for many years and owned a Cessna so I was very interested in the history.No factory tours allowed.
After all the parking difficulties I was very disappointed with a small section of three info boards and a short movie.Wikipedia would have been a better idea.
El Dorado 3 October
Used the State Park campsite on the towns lake for last night and intended to stay for two but we could just about have our exercise walk due to strong winds.Left for town and it's Museum of Oil.Another disappointing museum with its disjointed displays .Did not learn about the industry .
Walmart in town tonight.
Topeka 4 October
Slow start but main thing today was the Tallgrass Prairie Visitor Centre.This protects the last area of natural praire as seen by the settlers.The ground was too stony to plough so that saved it for posterity.Many trails ,we took one passing the old one room school and through some of the prairie with grazing buffalo.Much cooler than yesterday's 34 Deg only reaching 17.Large temperature variations here.Sams at Topeka,the state capitol, tonight in anticipation of tomorrow's Evil Knievel Museum !
You could not make it up.Driving the highway to Wichita we saw linesmen working on the electric poles.Just had to play Wichita Lineman by Glen Campbell on the MP3.
Anyway,I wanted to visit the historical museum in the city centre.My Rough Guide said it had a good section on Cessna and Beechcraft who are still major employers in this city.I was a private pilot for many years and owned a Cessna so I was very interested in the history.No factory tours allowed.
After all the parking difficulties I was very disappointed with a small section of three info boards and a short movie.Wikipedia would have been a better idea.
El Dorado 3 October
Used the State Park campsite on the towns lake for last night and intended to stay for two but we could just about have our exercise walk due to strong winds.Left for town and it's Museum of Oil.Another disappointing museum with its disjointed displays .Did not learn about the industry .
Walmart in town tonight.
Topeka 4 October
Slow start but main thing today was the Tallgrass Prairie Visitor Centre.This protects the last area of natural praire as seen by the settlers.The ground was too stony to plough so that saved it for posterity.Many trails ,we took one passing the old one room school and through some of the prairie with grazing buffalo.Much cooler than yesterday's 34 Deg only reaching 17.Large temperature variations here.Sams at Topeka,the state capitol, tonight in anticipation of tomorrow's Evil Knievel Museum !
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Topeka 5 October
Three parts to today.
First to the NP run site of Monroe Elementary School.Famous as one of five schools whose parents combined to win a Supreme Court Case against segregation.
This was a all black school and the Brown v Board of Education was a pivotal moment in USA history.
The guide pointed out that this particular school was actually a very good school but many states faired worse against their white counterpart schools.
Second to the Capitol Building.A grand affair finished in 1903 after nearly 40 years.A large Rotunda, murials, chandeliers its certainly impressed.The most interesting are that copper is used extensively for columns and ballastrades ,most unusual ,never seen that before.
Third to the Evelyn Knievel Museum attached to a Harley dealership.Only a year old it was very well presented .My draw to this was my attendance in 1975 as a boy at Wembley Stadium for his jump of London buses.He crashed after a hard landing.
A true showman,he pulled in the crowds .
Plenty of pics with a good signal.
Three parts to today.
First to the NP run site of Monroe Elementary School.Famous as one of five schools whose parents combined to win a Supreme Court Case against segregation.
This was a all black school and the Brown v Board of Education was a pivotal moment in USA history.
The guide pointed out that this particular school was actually a very good school but many states faired worse against their white counterpart schools.
Second to the Capitol Building.A grand affair finished in 1903 after nearly 40 years.A large Rotunda, murials, chandeliers its certainly impressed.The most interesting are that copper is used extensively for columns and ballastrades ,most unusual ,never seen that before.
Third to the Evelyn Knievel Museum attached to a Harley dealership.Only a year old it was very well presented .My draw to this was my attendance in 1975 as a boy at Wembley Stadium for his jump of London buses.He crashed after a hard landing.
A true showman,he pulled in the crowds .
Plenty of pics with a good signal.
JockandRita
LIFE MEMBER
- Aug 2, 2007
- 11,447
- 149,887
- Funster No
- 49
- MH
- N+B Flair 8000i
- Exp
- Since May 05 (Ex Tuggers).
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This just popped on my email for anyone interested.
visit us at the
Motorhome and Caravan Show
NEC Birmingham
16 – 21 October 2018
Hall 9 Stand 9.33
here you can find out more about
Motorhome Shipping Overseas:
USA, Canada, South & CentralAmerica,
South Africa, Australia & NewZealand
new:
Passenger Cabins on RO/RO - Ships
Liverpool – Halifax just 8 dayssailing time
www.seabridge-tours.de
since 1997 SeaBridge has shipped morethan
8.000 motorhomes across the oceans
www.mcshow.co.uk
NEC-Birmingham offical website
seabridge@t-online.de www.seabridge-tours.de
owner: Denice Heinemann
visit us at the
Motorhome and Caravan Show
NEC Birmingham
16 – 21 October 2018
Hall 9 Stand 9.33
here you can find out more about
Motorhome Shipping Overseas:
USA, Canada, South & CentralAmerica,
South Africa, Australia & NewZealand
new:
Passenger Cabins on RO/RO - Ships
Liverpool – Halifax just 8 dayssailing time
www.seabridge-tours.de
since 1997 SeaBridge has shipped morethan
8.000 motorhomes across the oceans
www.mcshow.co.uk
NEC-Birmingham offical website
seabridge@t-online.de www.seabridge-tours.de
owner: Denice Heinemann
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Kansas City,6 October
Slow to start from Walmart after video calls to family.Arrived in Lawrence ,a town mid way to Kansas City. Intrigued to visit the University of Kansas Natural History Museum due to a good write up .
Full of fossils and a large tableau of North American flora and fauna from the Chicago World Fair of 1893. Can not beat all those stuffed animals with technology.They also stuffed poor old “Comanche” ,the lone survivor of Custer's Last Stand.Info board explains how to do it ,just incase you want your favourite pet to still go with you on your travels.
No time left for the art museum so made our way in a lightening storm by highway across the state line in to Missouri which bisects the huge area of Kansas City.
Arrived at Sam's Club near Independence just before dark.A town on the east side of the sprawling city that houses more museums.
A theme here of museums but other than the old capitol buildings these cities hold no interest for us .Good for endless shopping but otherwise ? .
Have not seen another RV on the roads for days now ?
Slow to start from Walmart after video calls to family.Arrived in Lawrence ,a town mid way to Kansas City. Intrigued to visit the University of Kansas Natural History Museum due to a good write up .
Full of fossils and a large tableau of North American flora and fauna from the Chicago World Fair of 1893. Can not beat all those stuffed animals with technology.They also stuffed poor old “Comanche” ,the lone survivor of Custer's Last Stand.Info board explains how to do it ,just incase you want your favourite pet to still go with you on your travels.
No time left for the art museum so made our way in a lightening storm by highway across the state line in to Missouri which bisects the huge area of Kansas City.
Arrived at Sam's Club near Independence just before dark.A town on the east side of the sprawling city that houses more museums.
A theme here of museums but other than the old capitol buildings these cities hold no interest for us .Good for endless shopping but otherwise ? .
Have not seen another RV on the roads for days now ?
We found the 'Arabia' steamboat museum to our taste, never visited anything like it. The American National WWI museum also in Kansas City on the hill opposite Union Railway Station was one of the most moving of the all the war museums we have ever visited including those in Holland, the UK and France. What really grabbed me were the 3 short films at different locations in the museum which the US is superb at, they keep it direct and simple. The opening film as you enter the museum I returned to twice, found the explanation of the start of WWI quite stunning in it's simplicity and why war should never be glorified. Both of the KC museums have good parking if you are tempted.
Where you are at the moment, Independence was the most important town in the whole of the US as the fitting out and start point for the wagon trains west. They have a small museum about the trek west which has one or two notable exhibits and generally informative about the planning and the adventure that thousands took part in, but not in our opinion one of the great museums.
Americans don't appear to think the mid west is a place to visit, it's a place to fly over only. That may be the reason for no RV's?
Where you are at the moment, Independence was the most important town in the whole of the US as the fitting out and start point for the wagon trains west. They have a small museum about the trek west which has one or two notable exhibits and generally informative about the planning and the adventure that thousands took part in, but not in our opinion one of the great museums.
Americans don't appear to think the mid west is a place to visit, it's a place to fly over only. That may be the reason for no RV's?
OP
OP
Thanks veevee for the info , however our one day here was already planned.
Heavy rain all day,just as well we spent it inside.Today was a President Harry S Truman education.The morning visiting his family home followed in the afternoon at the Harry S Truman Library & Museum .Very well presented including his Oval Office replica .
From a poor background and failed investments he found his calling in politics.
Comes across as a down to earth no ego sort of guy . Always preferred to be home in Independence, Missouri than Washington and lived there again after his terms in office.
Buried with family in the library grounds.
Heavy rain all day,just as well we spent it inside.Today was a President Harry S Truman education.The morning visiting his family home followed in the afternoon at the Harry S Truman Library & Museum .Very well presented including his Oval Office replica .
From a poor background and failed investments he found his calling in politics.
Comes across as a down to earth no ego sort of guy . Always preferred to be home in Independence, Missouri than Washington and lived there again after his terms in office.
Buried with family in the library grounds.
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