Kitt Peak National Observatory

The largest collection of telescopes on Kitt Peak is located high above the Sonoran Desert under some of the finest night skies in the world, on the Tohono O'odham nation.

We were able to park The Moose at the bottom of the mountain and drive the jeep up to the observatory.  It was 12 miles to the top where 26 various telescopes are positioned.  We took the quick self guided tour of the mountain, guided tours are available.  I would love to go back to participate in this program. "Nightly Observing Program."  The evening begins with a light supper, followed by a dramatic sunset viewing.  The guides then show you how to use star charts to navigate the sky and lead you on a binocular tour of the heavens.  Then, you take turns viewing through one of the telescopes at several objects.  Next time around we are doing this.

On top of the mountain with the telescopes was a visitor center, dormitories and services to maintain the facility.

Deck playing with the plasma display.

Spectacular view from the solar scope looking back at the observatory.

McMath-Pierce Solar Telescope.  

Looking out from the top of the mountain.

It was amazing to be able to look in any direction and see so far away.

Being so high up in the mountains was awesome, the sights were breathtaking.  

Deck took this panoramic shot. It is a 180 degree view from the observatory to the mountain ridge.

Some of the roads had drop offs like this one sure
wouldn't want to test that guard rail.

Chiefland, Florida and Cedar Key

Great camping spot and kayaking area.

Our site.

A manatee swimming in the spring waters, the area was 6 feet above flood level from rains earlier in the week this made the waters murky usually they are crystal clear.  The bump in the water is a manatee.

Between 35 and 150 million gallons of crystal clear water flow from this first magnitude spring every day.  The water percolates through limerock to underground caves that feed the spring.  There were many divers going into the caves when we were there.  

Florida has more than 1,000 springs, the largest collection of springs in the world.

There are 27 springs parks in Florida.  90 % of drinking water for Floridians comes from the springs.

We spent the afternoon in Cedar Key enjoying some food and drink watching the fisherman on the boardwalk and waiting for sunset.  We drove about 35 miles from our campsite to get here.

Cedar Key

Cedar Key

Cedar Key

As the sunset the moon rose, this was on  December 22, 2018, one day after the winter solace, how cool was that!

Travel stats as of December 21, 2018

71 Days on the road

7 States

2,617 Miles

12 Campgrounds

Our Camping cost are averaging $20 a day, we have used Passport America, Coast to Coast, Good Sam Club, State Parks, National Parks & Forest and occasionally Walmarts.

Here is a list of the campgrounds we have stayed at, how many days, what type of park or discount we used.

Walmart , 3 nights
                                                                        
Hellcreek Ranch, Hell, MI., 5 days, private.
                                           
Mammoth Cave, Cave City, KY., 3 days, National Park
                                  
Lazy Llama, Chuckney, TN., 7 days, Passport America
                                         
Pride Resort, Waynesville, NC., 7 days, Coast to Coast
                                      
Shadrock,  Bristol, TN .,  3 days, Passport America
                            
Shadyfork, Wytheville, VA., 4 days, National Forest Campground

Shenandoah, Gordonsville, VA., 14 days, Coast to Coast

Hunting Island State Park, Beaufort, SC., 6 days, State Park

Faver Dykes , St. Augustine, FL.,  2 days, State Park

Jonathon Dickson's , Hobe Sound, FL., 3 days, State Park

Bee's RV Resort, Clermont, FL., 4 days, Coast to Coast

Homosassa River RV Park, Homosassa, FL., 3 days, Passport America

We spent 7 days visiting in Marathon Key without our motothome.

Holdiay and weekend spent in Virginia

 Darren and Lilly making a lamb stuffed animal named

 Lamblamb.

 

Lilly with her electrifying hair.  

 Our campsite with a cabana and a hot tub inside, 

oh yeah.

  Skyline Drive in the Shenandoah National Park.  

Yikes snow on the ground. 

Bristol TN or is that VA

There is a street in Bristol that is in TN on one side and VA on the other a little strange, just like when we were in KY at Mammoth Caves our phones were confused with the time we were on the line of the Eastern and Central Time zone.  We showed up for our cave tour an hour early (like we wanted to do that).

We have been in Bristol for 3 days the Nascar race track is 1/2 mile away, tomorrow we head 65 miles north into Mtn. Rogers National Recreation Area to stay at Stony Fork Campground for a week, we will be off the grid, meaning no internet or tv, they have some electric sites, good thing it's been cold at night, we have an electric heater which is better than burning our propane.  It looks like a beautiful place with lots of hiking 

November 6, we spent the afternoon on the Virginia Creeper Trail which is a bike path 36 miles long.  We only had time to ride 9 miles and then back 9 miles to our jeep.  They do have bike company's that shuttle you along the trail with or without renting their bikes.  We got a late start due to over night thunderstorms.  It was a beautiful ride we went over 11 trestle bridges on our trip.  All of the pictures below were taken on the trail.

 

Beginning our travels on the road in our RV

October 12, 2018 we sold our house and moved into Hell Creek, 1 mile from Hell Michigan and 5 miles from our home of 30 years.  Everything has a starting point and this was ours.  We hope you will follow along on our journey traveling America.