Typical Day on the Road

July 1

After buying some provisions, we headed to the Mark Twain Cave Campground, where we always stay when we're in town for Tom Sawyer Days. Later in the day, we were joined by our friends the Malkoffs, a family from Southern California who also are on the road fulltime. And they have a guest -- Libby, from the Bay Area, who was our "adopted daughter" for a month last fall. Late in the night -- very, very, late -- we also were joined by another "daughter": Ellie, the Mark Twain scholar from Buffalo, who flew into St. Louis and drove up to spend a couple of days with us. It's really "family reunion" week around here.

July 2

Returned to the Hannibal Library for 2 performances, our many-th time to perform there.

Then back to the campground, which now has wireless Internet. It was a week signal from our space, but when the wind blew right we could get online without lugging our computers into town.

July 3

A rather rainy day, but Dennis still biked into town to run some errands. Meanwhile, K & Z caught a ride to Java Jive, the coffee shop downtown that features wireless Internet. We noticed that the newspaper racks dispensing the Hannibal Courier-Post are specially painted with photos from past Tom Sawyer Days events, including a photo of Zephyr painting a fence during the competition the year that he won second place.

Tonight we had a campfire and cooked shish kabob.

July 4

Biked into town for the festivities today (at least some of us biked). First there was the parade, at which we tried to rendezvous (we left the campground at separate times) but got lost in the masses, then caught up again later at Java Jive. We entered two teams in the "backseat drivers" contest, in which one person sits in a wheelbarrow and gives directions, while the other person pushes the wheelbarrow around an obstacle course -- blindfolded. First, Dennis pushed while Kimberly shouted directions -- with mounting frustration. Then Zephyr pushed Libby, and they were very proud of the fact that they beat their elders' time by a few seconds.

Later, Dennis entered the "Over 30" fence painting contest, which both he and Kimberly have won in previous years. But this time, he didn't expect to get very far because he didn't come prepared with a costume and props, which count for a large part of the score, no matter how well or how fast you paint. And sure enough, he didn't win, but he did manage to get whitewash all over his hair, clothes, and skin, and in his eye again. Oh, and he also got a nifty new T-shirt out of the deal. (This year's winner, by the way, was, like the year that Kimberly won, female.)

Tonight's fireworks display was detonated, apparently for the first time ever, atop the high, steep bluff known as Lovers Leap. Normally, it's mounted on an island in the Mississippi, and spectators position themselves on the levee for an excellent unobstructed view. But this year the islands have been more or less underwater for much of the time, and the levee is off limits because it's covered with sandbags and reinforcements, and actually being put to its intended use. Nobody was quite certain what the visibility would be like for Lovers Leap. We walked across the road to Sawyer's Creek, the little amusement center featuring mini-golf, etc., thinking we'd be able to view the spectacle from the parking lot. Other people had the same idea, and the lot had quite a few cars in it. Once the fireworks started, however, it became clear that we were mistaken, so we all headed for higher ground. In our case, we just walked up the side of the road to the top of the hill, and there we were.

We regret that Ellie wasn't able to join us today, as she had to leave at about 4:00 AM to catch a plane back to Buffalo so she could get to work.

July 5

After having pancakes in the Malkoffs' (big) RV, we said goodbye to everyone -- they're all staying a little longer in Hannibal. Then we drove on to Indianapolis, where we made it to Trader Joe's before closing time.

July 6

Went to Camping World to see if they can replace our mirrors that were destroyed by the hit-and-run driver in Missouri. They'd have to order them, and it might take 2 or 3 days to get them, so we held off.

We heard from Libby, still in Hannibal, who reports that she won first place in the frog jumping contest. We assume that means her frog, or at least the frog representing her, jumped the farthest, and not that she herself jumped like a frog.

July 7

Went to a Chevrolet place to see if they could check out our ABS light that's been on since the Chevy place in Missouri worked on our brakes. They couldn't get to it for a couple of days, so we drove to another Chevy dealership 11 miles away, and were going to have them check it out. But they said it was unrelated to what the guys in Ste. Genevieve did, and so wouldn't be covered by the warranty, and was probably nothing to be concerned about anyway. So we decided to let it ride for now, and hope that we continue to ride with it.

July 8

Another day in Indianapolis enjoying our current neighborhood, which has a Panera so we can do our online work and a YMCA, as well as a couple of movie theaters to keep Zephyr on Cloud 9. We've ordered the mirrors from Camping World, so we have to stick around at least until tomorrow. (We've been making do with a makeshift mirror secured by that old miracle fix-all, duct tape.)

July 9

The mirrors came in, so we went to Camping World to pick them up. Discovered that one of the mirrors is missing a piece of hardware, and couldn't be used. So it had to be returned, with the job only half done. But we had to continue driving.

July 10

Arrived in Dayton, OH and spent a day running various and sundry errands.

July 11

Another day in Dayton, then we moved on to Pt. Pleasant, WV for tomorrow's show.

July 12

A return engagement at the Pt. Pleasant Library. Pt. Pleasant is notorious for the Mothman, a legendary creature that supposedly was spotted here in November 1966, and now has a life-size (or myth-size) statue dedicated to him . Previously, the town was best known as the site of the first battle (in 1774) between Native Americans and Europeans. (As usual, the Natives got the worst of it.) There's a national park along the river with an excellent mural commemorating the event.

This afternoon we drove on into Charleston, and made it to the post office in time to pick up the package from Kimberly's parents, containing the new wireless card for Dennis's computer. He installed it, but it did not solve the problem. Then he had to get the old one ready to ship back (using the FedEx Kinko's downtown) right away, so he won't be charged for the new one.

July 13

Took Zephyr to the Amtrak station at 8:00 this morning. He was supposed to catch a train into Virginia, where he'd be picked up by his friend Wiley and his mom, who'd then drive to Winston-Salem NC, where he'll be spending a couple of weeks with his band. But we learned that the train would be FIVE HOURS late!! The good news is that since he booked his trip, we booked an additional performance down in the southern part of the state, which actually will be closer to Winston-Salem than where he was headed. So we just drove him down there (Princeton), where they picked him up.

Tonight there was a very fierce thunderstorm.

July 14

Performed at the library in Princeton, our only show of the summer that was not a repeat client. But they're about to become one -- they're planning to have us back this fall!

July 15

Having spent the night in Beckley, we drove back up to Charleston, where we have 6 performances scheduled over the next 2 days for the Kanawha County Library System, for which we performed 4 years ago.

July 16

Performed this morning at the library in St. Albans. It was the premiere of our new version of "Coyote and Eagle" (which we've done in the past as a three-person troupe). The debut went quite well, and the audience was wonderfully responsive.

Our euphoria, however, hit a big bump on the way to our second show, in nearby Dunbar. We were driving to it with time to spare, despite the packed schedule, when suddenly our front brakes locked up, just as they have done 5 or 6 times over the past few months, causing us to spend hundreds -- nay, thousands -- of dollars supposedly getting it repaired. Each time this has happened, we found that if we waited a while, the brakes would free up and we could drive again. But today after half an hour or so, there was still no relief, so we had to call the library (with which we'd already been in touch about the problem) and ask them to implement emergency plan 357-82B. They dispatched a librarian, a pleasant young lady named Katie, to pick up us and our props in a company vehicle, and transport us to the show. We had to leave behind our set, and substitute our banners, as the vehicle was a minivan that didn't have that much room. But we made it to the show on time, and the performance went well.

Katie then drove us to our third performance, in Clendenin, which was considerably farther. In the meantime, she'd also provided us with some leads for mechanics, and after about 17 calls, we finally located one that could and would see us tomorrow. (It is in fact the garage that services the library's vehicles.)

So after the third show, Katie dropped us back at our RV, which now was driveable; so, rather than having to call a tow truck, we were able to get it on its own power to go the distance of about 10 miles to the shop, where it would be ready for them first thing in the morning.

July 17

Steve and Stacy's garage began looking at our RV almost immediately after they opened up at 7:00, which has to be the most prompt response we've ever seen from a repair facility.

Katie picked us up again and transported us to our shows in Marmet and Elk Valley. The library in Marmet was the smallest we'd ever seen, consisting of a small trailer. No, we didn't perform inside it. (Although we recalled that a few years ago we did perform in another trailer library, not much larger, in Oklahoma City. We didn't even have room to open up our set completely, and the audience more or less stood in the doorway.) Instead, we were in the town hall next door, which had plenty of room. Our dressing room (which is pretty much a necessity when we don't have the set) was a storage room for police files and evidence, including some boxes marked "Bio Hazard; Do Not Touch". Zephyr, a CSI fanatic, will be green with envy.

After the Elk Valley show, Katie took us back to the garage, where they were just finishing up our vehicle. Their verdict was that the front hoses were worn and subject to becoming constricted, putting pressure on the fluid that caused the brakes to engage when they shouldn't. (This was pretty much a process of elimination, as just about every other component has been replaced already!) We just wish somebody had thought of this sooner, as it was the least costly of all the repairs.

We were able to drive ourselves to the last performance, at the Main Library in downtown Charleston. Katie was there and saw our show for the fifth time, but this was the first time she'd seen it with the set.

After saying goodbye to the librarians, we headed out of Charleston thoroughly exhausted.

July 18

Pulled into Morgantown, which we gather somehow inspired the song "Morning Morgantown" by Joni Mitchell. It also appears to have been the home of basketball superstar Jerry West and comedy superstar Don Knotts, who both have streets named after them. The first thing we noticed approaching town was a futuristic dome that looked enormous, appearing about twice the size of the standard arena, and we were beginning to think the mother ship had landed. But when we got off the freeway, we drove right by it, and it turned out to be the sports arena used by West Virginia University, and only of standard size. It had been an interesting optical trick that somehow the surrounding landscape made it appear much larger.

Kimberly spent the day holed up at Panera, wrestling with her cantankerous computer; while Dennis devoted much of the day to changing the starter on the RV -- it had started acting up as soon as we left Charleston. First he biked to the parts store, which entailed going down a very long hill (there's no flat ground anywhere around here), and when he arrived at Advance Auto, he was informed that the starter is not in stock, but could be there within a couple of hours. So he had them order it, then went back up the very long hill and did the whole thing all over again later. On the return trip, he also stopped at a bike shop to get his front brakes adjusted, and learned about a very pleasant bike trail along the river, which he took into town to do some business at the post office. He had contemplated making use of the fascinating shuttle system consisting of very small subway type cars (but separated, not linked) running on wheels on a raised track that made the whole thing look like a monorail system or a carnival ride. But if he'd taken that, he would have missed out on the bike trail.

Anyway, the new starter worked out fine, and again we were off.

July 19

Performed for the library in Monessen, PA just south of Pittsburgh. A very warm day, and we were in a youth center without air conditioning, but we survived.

July 20

Spent the day in the Harrisburg area, doing work at a Panera and shopping for groceries at Wegman's, one of our very favorite supermarket chains.

Gas prices around here are a little lower than what we've been seeing, but still painful enough.

We are distressed by how many people propose offshore drilling as the solution to the energy crisis. Even if it had a noticeable impact (it wouldn't), such a drastic measure should be the LAST option considered, and not (as it invariably is) the first. It's hardly a footnote in history now, but once upon a time two presidents named Ford and Carter implemented stricter automobile standards that DOUBLED fuel efficiency and which, if left in effect, could have essentially eliminated the need for Persian Gulf oil by now. But alas, their work was undone by the Reagan administration, and the pressure cooker has been building ever since. It was only a matter of time until astronomical prices at the pump would result. We like John McCain's idea, long overdue, of providing incentives for the development of alternatives. Let's end this oil addiction once and for all; it's a very dangerous (not to mention expensive) drug.

July 21

Had an appointment in Harrisburg at 1:00 at what we thought was an Aamco transmission shop, to get the oil changed in the transmission and the differential. We arrived, however, to find that it is no longer an Aamco but an independent garage. They seemed competent enough, but took forever: what we expected to be a 30 minute job dragged on for 3 hours or more. And they did the work in the alley next to their shop rather than pull the vehicle inside, which we've never seen anyone do before.

When they were finally done, we did what we'd planned to do earlier: took a bike ride on a 20-mile loop along the Susquehanna River. It took us past a very impressive marshy wildlife preserve with all manner of birds flying and floating and perching, and through the historic capitol district downtown. Most of the route was quite pleasant, consisting of shaded and paved bike path; but parts of it entailed going into traffic, and those segments didn't always connect easily with the others. we've seen a great deal of progress in the past few years as far as making cities more bike-friendly, but there's still a long way to go.

We started the ride at about 5:30, leaving our vehicle parked at the Pennsylvania Dept. of Agriculture, and returned at about 9:00.

July 22

Up to the Poconos, where we checked into Mt. Pocono Campground. If we stand on a hill in the clearing, we can see mountains for perhaps 100 miles. We took a brief bike ride, but with the hilly terrain, the gravel and mud on the roads, and the mountain air, we got winded pretty quickly.

July 23

A return engagement at the Pocono Pines Library, our 4th or 5th time here. Then we headed on to Hazleton, where we plan to pick up our missing son in a few days.

Speaking of whom, we've talked to him by phone a couple of times, and he can't stop raving about "Dark Night", the new Batman movie. He's even inspired to take up an impersonation of The Joker (as interpreted by the late Heath Ledger) to go along with his Johnny Depp/ Jack sparrow. Just what we need -- more costumes in the trailer.

July 24

Still in Hazleton, we biked down to the library in hopes of doing some computer work, but there was no wi-fi available, so we went to a nearby coffee shop called the Cyber Calf. After spending a couple of hours there, it was off to the nearby YMCA for a workout -- although our legs didn't need much of one, because the roads were extremely hilly.

Tonight we decided to splurge on a movie at the nearby theater, as we hadn't done that in ages -- specifically, we went to see "Dark Knight". And while we agree that it's well done, we grow numb after a certain number of explosions, fist fights and car chases. When you have to wear your earplugs during the entire film (instead of just the trailers, as we usually do) there's something wrong.

July 25

Being unable to find certain types of businesses that we need in Hazleton, we opted to drive back down to Harrisburg for a couple of days. We'll rendezvous with Zephyr here instead -- he can be delivered anywhere along Interstate 81.

July 26

Still in Harrisburg.

July 27

Today we fielded an incoming Zephyr, who was delivered by his friends passing through from Winston-Salem on their way to visit relatives in New York state.

July 28

Drove from Harrisburg to the outskirts of Philadelphia, where we hit the first Trader Joe's we've seen in all too long.

July 29

An exciting day doing office work in Panera.

July 30

A return engagement at the Free Library of Philadelphia, where we had a very large crowd -- mostly daycare groups. Dennis introduced himself to the music librarian, whose posts he's been following on Orchestralist, an online forum for musicians, conductors and composers.

It would have been nice to do some sightseeing in Philly while we were so close to the Liberty Bell, et al (we've seen these attractions before, but it's been a few years) but parking down there is impossible. Dennis considered biking back down from the suburbs this afternoon, but that didn't work out, so now he's considering it for tomorrow.

July 31

Today, D & K start alternating days of a bike route as we make our way from Pennsylvania to Massachusetts. Kimberly took the first leg, starting out from Valley Forge, and her destination was our rendezvous point of Phillipsburg, NJ. She didn't quite make it all the way, but even so she put in 63 miles, most of it quite hilly.

Meanwhile, Dennis and Zephyr did a measly 6 miles on bikes, touring the historic sites at valley Forge National Park. Then they drove up to Phillipsburg to meet her, encountering some agonizing traffic problems along the way.