Welcome to OUR TRIP for 2003, Enjoy your Ride Along and the Sites
Trip made in 1997 Ford F-150 XLT with 4.6 Liter Triton V-8 Automatic Overdrive, Covered 13 states and a total of over 7,000 Miles. Averaged 19.7 mpg Overall for the Entire Trip. Cruise is set at posted speed limit. Away We Go.....HOLD ON. Its going to be HOT But the Air Conditioning is Working Fine

"The FORD"

Starting Wen. June 25th Leaving out of Santee, Ca. Taking I-8 East to Gila Bend then North on 85 to I-10 East to 202 arriving in Mesa, Az. Had a Very Nice Visit with Oldest Daughter and family Kim, Larry, Natasha and Ricky. Attended Natasha's High School Graduation that night.
Kim and Larry's House
Natasha's Graduation
Left Mesa, Az. 2:00AM Thu. Taking I-17 North to Flagstaff, Az., then I-40 east to Oklahoma City, Ok. stopping for the night. Up again and on the road at 2:00AM Fri. morning June 27th heading North on I-35 through Kansas, Missouri and Iowa to Des Moines arriving early afternoon.
Unloaded truck, cleaned up and called Barbara. We had started communicating via computer on May 23, 2003. A interesting fact being that 27 June 2003 was exactly 43 years to the day from the last time we had seen each other.
Here we spent 3 days getting re-aquainted. The 43 years seemed to just fade away, found out that there was so many things from our past that were still a big part of our lives after all this time. Was a most interesting and wonderful time. I was able to meet her Son, Daughter and their families, Her Grandchildren (4)
Barbara's Family __

At this point I asked her to go with me to Spencer Wisconsin as was collecting information on my family history to add to my Genealogy web site. We left Des Moines Mon. morning Jun. 30th going North on I-35 through Iowa, Minnesota and then east on I-94 into Wisconsin then 29 to Spencer.

Rest Stop
Was able to find grave sites and location of the orginal family homestead however no grave stones or remains of the buildings on the property to photograph for the site.
Had an interesting trip back to Des Moines seeing some of the sites in Wisconsin, Illinois and eastern Iowa on the way back.
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Arriving back in Des Moines on Thu. July 3rd. Spent the evening of the 4th at her sons house watching the fireworks, They had quite a display and was a very enjoyable evening.
Spending the next week at her house. I had asked her to accompany me back out to California to see where I live and meet my family. We left Des Moines Sat. morning July 12th heading west on I-80 with a stop at Guide Rock Neb. for some more information gathering for the genealogy web site. This being a interesting little town with a current population of 245 people. Did get several good pictures of headstones of family members from the mid 1800 era to add to the site here.

The next morning July 13th drove on to Longmont, Co., Had a nice visit with Step mother Kyo, Brother Bill and his wife, visited the cemetary and spent a couple days showing Barbara the mountains where had spent my summers as a youth and love so much.
Colorado Brainard Lake_______Devils Gorge _
Barb___________________The Cabin _
Rock Creek__________________The Rose _
Left Longmont, Co. Wed. morning the July 16th, heading south on I-25 to Albuquerque New Mexico then west on I-40 to to Gallup New Mexico where we spent the night. Continuing west the next morning July 17th with stops along the way at souvenir shops, the Painted Dessert and on to Holbrook, Az. then south on 377/260 to Payson, Az. another of my favorite mountain areas, seeing the area and spending the night there.

Painted Desert _
Up the next morning July 18th and on to oldest daughters house where Barbara had a chance to meet her and her family. Had a nice visit with them spending 2 days in the Mesa Az. area.
Dinner with Oldest Daughters Family_____Kim and Shadow _
Sunday morning July 20th was back heading west to my home in Santee, Ca. Here she was able to meet my youngest daughter, husband and 3 more of my Grandchildren.
Youngest Daughters Family _
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Spending the next 5 days seeing some of the sites in the San Diego area, Beaches, Bay Cuise, The Star of India the oldest steel hull sailing ship left afloat, checking out some of the local resturants etc.
The San Diego Area Downtown____________Coranado Bridge _
Barb____________Jerry _
Pacific Ocean _
Stennis___________Fishing Boat _
Star of India________________________Rosecrans National Cemetary _
My Home _
Friday July 25th went North up I-15, 138 and I-14 to Rosamond, Ca. to meet another daughter Denise and her family, Was able to meet Tricia's children also while here so was another 5 of the the Grandchildren here.
Denise's Family_______________Denise and Tricia's Children _
Jerry and Grand Kids
While in the area we went to Edwards Air Force Base trying to locate the house when she had lived from 1963 to 1965. The Street was still there but housing had been torn down and replaced at some point in time. Did get a chance to tour the base and take some pictures at least while there. Spent 2 days in the area
Edwards Air force Base Main Gate_____________________Welcome to Edwards _
Display______________Base Housing _
Sunday morning July 27th returned back to Santee via the coast route, it was an overcast day and not able to get good views of the ocean or pictures as had hoped we could of.
San Diego Wild Animal Park Visit Main Gate____________________Barb at Lagoon _
Animal Enclosures _
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Thanks for the Riding Along, and I Hope You Enjoyed the Trip - We sure did

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Click here for Part II of OUR 2003 TRIP

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