During the drive from Des Moines, Iowa to Orange County, California, one of several stops along the way was in Lebo, Kansas at the TA Travel Center.
Contained in the travel center is a Country Pride Restaurant. Jessica and I stopped in for some breakfast. Inside the restaurant dining room were two photos. One was of John Wayne and the other was of Roy Rogers. They were hung next to each other. I didn't notice any other celebrity photos.
Here are the photos:
 |
| Above, Kelsey Smith. |
Greg Smith, father of Kelsey Smith, posted a relatively new video from the Roku Channel. It is titled, "Murdered at First Sight: Without A Trace" the story of the June 2007 kidnapping and murder of Kelsey.
According to Greg:
This documentary was filmed last year and originally aired in the UK (and also in Europe, I think). It is now on the Roku Channel or you can click the link in Tim's post below.
I just viewed the video in its entirety and it brings back sad memories of that time. I started following the case when it first broke. I was at my mom's and Greta Van Sustern had the story on her program. It hit home with me as my daughter at the time was interested in going to veterinary school, like Kelsey, and was only a few years older. When I started following the case, Kelsey hadn't been found yet and her parents were trying to get Kelsey's cell phone ping information from the cell company.
I followed the story on the Fox News Channel and online, even at work. It was after the police got the cell phone ping information, they were able to find Kelsey's body pretty quick.
 |
| Above, yours truly with Greg Smith at the Kansas Capitol Building in 2016. |
During my 2016 trip to Metropolis, Illinois to attend Noel Neill's celebration of life services, I stopped in the Kansas State Capitol in Topeka, Kansas for a visit with Greg Smith, who was then a state senator. That was one of the things I wanted to accomplish on the trip. It was a big honor that he took the time for me to meet him. He and his wife Missey founded the Kelsey Smith Foundation to educate people on missing persons and what to do should they find themselves in that situation. Their hard work had the Kelsey Smith Act enacted in many states.
To view the video, go here.
 |
| Above, at Deer Creek Valley RV Park near Topeka, Kansas. Photo by Armand Vaquer. |
Eight years ago, I had a mishap with my motorhome that required me to buy two new tires. This happened in St. Louis, Missouri.
As the cost of the tires set me back financially on the trip, I had to spend several days at a Topeka, Kansas RV park due to it being a weekend and the Monday was Veterans Day. So I had to wait until Tuesday when the bank opened to do money transfers so I could get back on the road. Luckily, I had enough cash to last me until I could make the transfers.
 |
| Above, at Deer Creek Valley RV Park. Photo by Armand Vaquer. |
The RV park I stayed at was Deer Creek Valley RV Park. It has to be one of this nicest (to this day) RV parks I've stayed at.
Since the temperatures in the area went down into the 20s, I went to a Walmart (conveniently close to the RV park) to pick up a space heater to save on propane. I still use it.
RV Life has posted an article on Deer Creek Valley RV Park.
They begin it with:
Many RVers are drawn to the US coasts, but there are countless hidden gems scattered across the Midwest as well. Most might see Kansas as a drive-through state, but it can actually be the perfect destination for peaceful prairie camping. And there’s no better place to stay than Deer Creek Valley RV Park.
This campground is one of the best-rated options in the state (if not the entire country!) And when you look a little closer, it’s easy to see why. For starters, it’s close to Topeka, but it’s also in the heart of the Great Plains. This creates a location that’s just the right mix of urban and rural.
The park itself is also meticulously organized and maintained. Every camper has access to everything they need and then some! A few resort-level amenities are included in your stay as well, so you won’t have to rough it here. There are several other factors that set this park apart from the rest, so read on to learn about this lovely getaway.
To read the full article, go here.
The built-in RV propane heater in my motorhome is quite efficient in heating up the inside of the RV. Trouble is, it eats up battery power (if one is out boondocking) and propane.
When I was in Topeka, Kansas eight years ago, I bought a space heater at a Walmart nearby to the RV park I was staying at. It got down into the 20s at night. As I had full hook-ups, it kept the interior of the motorhome nice and warm and I saved on propane.
However, there are some dangers involved with space heaters and, according to an article in RV Life, even more so inside of RVs.
They begin with:
Using a space heater can be a great way to keep your RV warm and toasty on cold winter days. While your RV’s propane furnace will meet most of your heating needs, a space heater can quickly provide heat where you need it. The problem is, space heaters can cause (sometimes fatal) RV fires when we aren’t careful with them.
The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) reported that 9 out of 10 fire-related deaths involved the use of mounted or fixed electric space heaters. According to the report, space heaters were the leading cause of catastrophic fires in the US.
That being said, space heater fires in RVs are usually far more devastating than home fires due to their multitude of highly flammable components. The chances of you losing your life in an RV fire are far greater than losing your life in a house fire.
To read the full article, go here.
 |
| Above, The Beast at Deer Creek Valley RV Park in Topeka, Kansas. Photo by Armand Vaquer. |
Six years ago, I was camping at Deer Creek Valley RV Park in Topeka, Kansas where the nighttime temperatures dropped to the 20s.
I noticed that the built-in propane heater was eating up my supply of propane. As there was a Walmart nearby, I went there and bought a ceramic electric space heater. That did the trick. Instead of using the propane heater, I used the electric heater and saved on my propane. The heater was around $20.
MotorBiscuit posted an article with four reasons to consider buying an electric heater for the RV. One of them, per above, was to save propane.
They begin with:
As temperatures drop and the snow begins to fall, it’s time to start thinking about keeping warm this winter, especially if you plan to take the RV out for a cold-weather camping trip.
Winter camping offers relief from mosquitoes and an air conditioner that runs non-stop with enjoyable brisk hikes, sledding, and plenty of other outdoor activities. But, once the sun starts to set, you will want a warm place to return to after playing outside. Sure, a campfire or cozy blanket can do the trick, but when it gets too cold inside the RV, an electric heater could be the answer to keep Jack Frost from nipping at your nose.
Here are four reasons you may want to consider an electric heater for an RV this winter season.
To read more, go here.
 |
| Above, The Beast at Covered Wagon RV Park in Abilene, Kansas. Photo by Armand Vaquer. |
Back in November 2016, during my trip to Metropolis, Ilinois, I stopped in Abilene, Kansas to see the Dwight D. Eisenhower Presidential Library.
I stayed at the Covered Wagon RV Park, which was a mile or two from the Library. The word rustic does not even begin to describe it. It had hook-ups, but not much else in amenities. But, it was good enough to catch a night's sleep.
Now, a new RV park is in the works and, according to an article in Modern Campground, is slated to open soon. It is the Windy Trails Premier RV Park. Along with campsites, it will also have horse stalls for those travelers with horses.
According to the article:
With a vision to provide drivers and travelers a rest stop for a night, Abilene (Kansas) native David Strong sought to develop Windy Trails Premier RV Park. After going through a lengthy process, the park will be opening soon.
“I just see the people when I’m driving, there [are] no places to park, there [are] no places to pull over,” Strong said. “With the new government fuels for the DOT (department of transportation), truck drivers can only drive so many hours and they have to pull over and all the rest areas are full throughout the whole country.”
Windy Trails will feature ten pull-thru RV sites, three shower/storm shelter facilities, ten camping sites, a fenced kids play area, a fenced dog play area, covered secure RV/boat storage, eight overnight horse stalls, and a laundry facility.
To read more, go here.
 |
| Above, the temperatures got down into the 20s at Deer Creek Valley RV Park in Topeka, Kansas, prompting me to purchase an electric space heater. Photo by Armand Vaquer. |
Back in 2016, I camped for a few days in Topeka, Kansas while waiting for a money transfer at my bank. While there, the nighttime temperatures dropped down into the 20s. I was using my built-in propane heater in my motorhome, but that wasn't cost effective. I needed an electric heater to help save propane.
Luckily, a Walmart was nearby and I went over there to pick up an electric space heater. I bought a ceramic electric space heater and it fit my needs perfectly. I still use it to this day.
 |
| Above, the electric space heater I bought in Topeka, Kansas. Photo by Armand Vaquer. |
The topic of what is the best electric heater for RV camping has been posted at Do It Yourself RV.
They start it off with:
“What is the best electric heater for RV camping?” This is a question many RVers ask when cold weather rolls around each year. After all, why spend money on propane to operate your propane furnace if you have shore power (120 VAC) available to operate an electric heater?
If you search online for “best electric heater for RV” you will find a nearly endless list of comparisons, reviews, and debates on electric heaters. The problem is, you don’t need to know the absolutely best electric heater for RV use, you need to know the best choice of electric heater for the way you use your RV.
Let’s look at the different types of electric heaters and features to determine which ones fit your needs.
To read more, go here.
 |
| Above, during my 2026 Metropolis, Illinois trip, my first night's stop was at a KOA in Williams, Arizona. Photo by Armand Vaquer. |
The nice thing about retirement is that while traveling in the RV, one isn't in a hurry to get somewhere. At least they shouldn't be.
Retirees can take their time and enjoy the sights along the way. An added benefit is flexibility, where detours can be made and if one particularly likes an RV park so much that can add an extra night or two to enjoy it.
 |
| Above, flexibility allowed me to check out places such as Meteor Crater in Arizona. Photo by Armand Vaquer. |
Generally, when I am driving somewhere, my rule of thumb is to get an early start (I'm an early riser anyway) and get to the the day's overnight stop in the afternoon. There's one thing I don't like doing, and that is to set up camp after dark. By getting to the stop while the sun's still out, one can enjoy the rest and sit outside (weather permitting) with a cold drink or even coffee and relax. It is refreshing and make the next day's drive easier.
 |
| Above, after a day's drive, time to relax at the KOA in Springfield, Missouri. Photo by Armand Vaquer. |
I prefer a day's drive in the 300 to 450 mile range. I've gone over 500 miles in a day, but I found I am worn out by the end of the day. I'm retired, so why push it?
 |
| Above, flexibility allowed me to visit the Dwight D. Eisenhower Presidential Library in Abilene, Kansas. Photo by Armand Vaquer. |
Naturally, everyone's different. Some like to keep their day's drive under 300 miles and some don't mind driving 500 miles. It's whatever one feels comfortable with.
 |
| Above, The Beast at Deer Creek Valley RV Park in Topeka, Kansas. Photo by Armand Vaquer. |
2021 has been a mixed bag of a year.
In regards to the pandemic, it seems that each time we take two steps forward, we end up one step back when it comes to personal freedoms. While some politicians love to not let a good crisis go to waste, there has been blowback from people telling them enough is enough.
What does 2022 have in store? That's anyone's guess. But on the RVing front, Mike Gast at RV Travel looked into his crystal ball and makes some predictions.
He starts off with:
I know we’ve just arrived in December 2021, but with the weirdness of the past 12 months, it’s not too early to roll out the crystal ball and try to start making educated guesses as to what may be in store for RVers in 2022.
What got me thinking along those lines was the grand opening of a new RV park in Avila, California. It looks like a beautiful place, especially its spectacular ocean views. But we heard from at least one RVTravel.com reader who wasn’t too happy with the rates the new park was charging. There are, of course, a lot of factors in their rates, but they appear to be in the $98- to $135-a-night range. That doesn’t seem out of line with the rest of the parks in that region, but it sure seemed high to at least one reader.
The new 115-site Flying Flags Avila Beach RV Resort is just one of the first of what will likely soon be a flood of new and expanded RV parks in coming years. New campgrounds and new park owners will likely bring new rate structures along for the ride.
But rates are only part of the picture as we approach 2022. Here’s a look at a few things to consider for the future. It’s likely not a totally comprehensive list, and my predictions could be way off base. I’d like to hear what you have to say, so be sure to give us your thoughts in the comments section at the end of the story.
To read more, go here.
 |
| Above, The Beast at the Superman statue in Metropolis, Illinois. Photo by Armand Vaquer. |
It is hard to believe that it was five years ago today that I reached Metropolis, Illinois to attend the memorial service/celebration of life for Noel Neill.
This was the longest trip to date (and it still holds that record for me) I have taken anywhere. It totaled three weeks long. I drove from L.A. to Metropolis in The Beast and it was this trip that I became enchanted with the Gallup, New Mexico area. I returned a year later and ended up buying my ranchette.
From Metropolis, I headed down to Memphis, Tennessee to visit Graceland and Sun Studio and then back to Illinois to see the Lincoln attractions.
From there, I went to Topeka, Kansas and met with Greg Smith and then to Abilene, Kansas to see the Dwight D. Eisenhower Library.
After that, I went to Monument Valley and the Grand Canyon before heading back home.
That was quite a trip.
 |
| Above, The Beast at Joshua Tree National park where the propane heater drained the house battery. Photo by Armand Vaquer. |
Back in 2015, I spent a night at the Cottonwood Campground in Joshua Tree National Park. Although it wasn't winter yet (it was in November), the nighttime temperatures got down into the 30s. I used the RV heater for the first time.
The following morning, I found that the house battery (there were no power hook-ups at the campground) was drained to practically zilch. The battery is needed to power the RV heater fan. Since it was about 5:00 in the morning, firing up the generator was out of the question as it is noisy and there's other campers to consider.
Instead, I started the engine and it began to charge the house battery since it is much quieter. But the charging was too slow, so I left the campground around 6:30. I didn't camp in such conditions (no electric hook-ups and cold temperatures) again.
About a year later, I was camping at a RV park in Topeka, Kansas and since there was a Walmart nearby I bought a ceramic space heater. The nighttime temperature was forecast to get into the 20s. Since I had power from the campground, that worked fine for me and I didn't have to use the RV propane heater.
RV Life has an article on what is right for a RV: Propane or electric? It discusses the pros and cons (like what I experienced) on heating a RV during winter conditions with propane and electric heaters.
They begin with:
With winter in full swing, many campers are missing their RVs like crazy. Meanwhile, there are RVers who choose to keep on camping despite the chilly weather. The trick to enjoying winter camping trips? A heater, of course!
Most people who camp in cold weather only occasionally simply turn on the RV propane heater included with their trailer or motorhome. This is fine in some cases, but depending on your camping style and preferences, it might not be the best option for you.
Wondering what options you have besides the traditional RV propane heater, and which heating option would work best for you? In this article, we will discuss both of these things so you can head out on your winter camping trips with confidence.
To read more, go here.
 |
| Above, Monument Valley Tribal Park is operated by and is a part of the Navajo Nation. Photo by Armand Vaquer. |
The National Park Service isn't the only body (government or otherwise) that administers national parks and monuments in the U.S.
Several Native American tribes have created Tribal National Parks around the country. A new one has just been created.
According to InsideHook:
This week brought with it the announcement of a new national park, one which will eventually encompass 444 acres on the border of Nebraska and Kansas. The governing body setting this new park up isn’t the National Park Service, however; instead, it’s being established by the Iowa Tribe of Kansas and Nebraska.
A report from the Associated Press notes that the Ioway Tribal National Park “will overlook a historic trading village where the Ioway people bartered for buffalo hides and pipestones with other tribes during the 13th to 15th centuries.” When it’s completed, Ioway Tribal National Park will join a growing number of tribal national parks across North America.
It’s worth mentioning here that this isn’t an exclusively American phenomenon. Similar parks have been established in other countries where Indigenous populations faced warfare, oppression and relocation in the name of colonialism. Booderee National Park, located on the east coast of Australia, is owned by the Wreck Bay Aboriginal Community and jointly managed by Parks Australia and the Indigenous community there.
The Ioway Tribal National Park was made possible, in part, by a donation of land by the Nature Conservancy of Nebraska. That puts the park in line with two growing movements: One, of raising awareness of where Indigenous peoples have historically lived. The other involves donating land outright, which has taken place on governmental, institutional and personal levels.
 |
| Above, a supermoon shot from Abilene, Kansas. Photo by Armand Vaquer. |
Skywatchers are in for a treat next week when the full worm supermoon rises in the sky.
“March’s full Moon, called the full Worm Moon, reaches peak fullness at 1:48 p.m. EDT on Monday, March 9,” explains the Old Farmer’s Almanac. “Look for the spectacularly bright Moon as it rises above the horizon that evening!”
The celestial event will be the first of three supermoons in 2020, according to the Old Farmer’s Almanac. EarthSky notes that the full worm moon will be the second-closest of the year’s supermoons.
 |
| Above, the Place of Meditation is the final resting place of the President, First Lady, and their first-born son, Doud. Photo by Armand Vaquer. |
 |
| Above, the statue of Gen. Eisenhower. Photo by Armand Vaquer. |
ABILENE, Kan. (KSNW) – The story of President Dwight D. Eisenhower began in Kansas. Now, 200,000 people a year visit the Eisenhower Presidential Library, Museum and Boyhood Home in the neighborhood where he grew up in Abilene.
Over the years, an entire campus has grown up around the family home. It recently reopened after a renovation project. The makeover includes interactive displays and the flexibility to rotate exhibits.
“It gives us the opportunity to be a little bit more flexible with the artifacts,” said Dawn Hammatt, the director of the Eisenhower Presidential Library, Museum and Boyhood Home. “We can rotate our artifacts more simply and that will give the visitors a different experience when they come.”
With upgrades in technology, visitors can now choose the time and place they want to learn more about the Kansas president.When I visited the museum, it seemed more focused on Eisenhower the general, rather than as president.
 |
| Above, yours truly with then-Senator Greg Smith in 2016 at the Kansas State Capitol. Smith was defeated by RINO-turned-Democrat Dinah Sykes. |
TOPEKA - Two more Kansas lawmakers are leaving the Republican Party to become Democrats, shrinking the ranks of GOP moderates after the Legislature grew more conservative in the November election.
Sen. Dinah Sykes and Rep. Stephanie Clayton, both moderate Johnson County Republicans, said Wednesday they are becoming Democrats. They join Sen. Barbara Bollier, who left the Republican Party earlier in December.
The party switching comes after a nationwide surge of Democratic voters in suburban areas. The surge helped defeat Republican U.S. Rep. Kevin Yoder, and some state lawmakers are now aligning themselves with this new political reality.
 |
| Above, the Comfort Zone ceramic convection heater in The Beast. Photo by Armand Vaquer. |
 |
| Above, The Beast at Goulding's Lodge Campground at Monument Valley. It got down into the 20s there, but the ceramic convection heater I bought in Topeka, Kansas kept me warm. Photo by Armand Vaquer. |
Don't get left out in the cold this winter! Stay warm and cozy in your RV with these three portable space heaters that are guaranteed to take the chill out.
The cold hard fact is that RVs and winter weather are not ideal companions. With little insulation and plenty of opportunities for chilly air to leak in, it can be difficult to keep an RV comfortably warm when the temperatures drop. That’s where portable space heaters come in handy.
No matter how many times you vow to “follow the warm weather” while RVing, the truth is that you’re going to run into cold weather eventually.
It could be a freak cold snap, the necessity of traveling through cold northern states to get to warmer states, camping at high elevations where the nights are almost always cold, living in your RV while working in a cold climate, camping in the spring and fall when temperatures go up and down—or maybe you just like to spend time in colder places.
"The Democrats have become too extreme and too dangerous to govern, You don't hand matches to an arsonist, and you don't give power to an angry left wing mob -- and that's what they've become."
 |
| Above, The Beast at Deer Creek RV Park in Topeka, Kansas. Photo by Armand Vaquer. |
Park yourself and your vehicle at these best RV parks in every state for travelers who like to see the world from the comfort of their home on wheels, and you'll surely be a happy camper!
 |
| Above, The Beast at the Limon KOA in November 2016. Photo by Armand Vaquer. |
A powerful spring snow storm has caused multiple road closures on Colorado's eastern plains.
High wind warnings and blizzard warnings have been issued across eastern Colorado and western Kansas. Blizzard conditions are expected to last through Saturday morning.
CDOT said that I-70 has been closed from Limon to the Kansas border with no estimated time of reopening. The closure is extending to Airpark Road as of 3:50 p.m.
 |
| Above, The Beast at the Williams/Grand Canyon KOA in Arizona. Photo by Armand Vaquer. |
 |
| Above, taking the Monument Valley tour. The Mittens are in the background. |
